Worthless degree claims refuted

Students must not blame degrees for their failure to obtain jobs. Market realities and other factors such as corruption determine the outcomes. That is the opinion of the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, Prof Johan Ras. He was responding to claims by Correctional Studies students that the degree was not recognised by the Department of Correctional Services and was therefore worthless. One student said he and fellow students approached the university about the matter and demanded a refund of their R25 000 per year study fees so that they could pursue other, more relevant degrees. Prof Ras said the B Correctional Studies degree is accredited by the Department of Education.‘We often find that students battle to land jobs and then blame the degrees for their failures. ‘The universal truth is that market forces, candidate suitability and other personal factors determine success or failure. ‘Sometimes candidates won’t get offered positions because of little things like not having a driver’s licence, not marketing themselves well or freezing during interviews and so on. ‘Another factor we find is that with all the corruption and nepotism going on, suitable candidates still get sidelined to make way for family members or friends of those in charge. ‘That is why such graft practices needed to be weeded out so that the playing fields can be levelled. ‘Unfortunately no degree ever guarantees anyone a job. It is simply evidence of a certain level of competency and qualification. ‘A university has no control of what happens outside the lecture halls once it has fulfilled its duty of equipping students as best it could.’ Prof Ras added that the university is currently in the process of transforming courses to offer more appropriate and ‘career-friendly’ diploma and certificate courses as per the institution’s mandate to become a ‘comprehensive university.’