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Added: Friday, 10 July, 2009, 20:38 GMT 21:38 UK

What is wrong with local universites, or rather your local CFE offering a education certifiate with Degree on it, this is probably instead of HNC, HND or Btec level 4, on I hear the Education Purist groaning. The probable truth is the were very close if not degree standard anyway, and the basis of the middle class in manufacturing industry. Or is this the real problem snobbery no them and us distiction.

Neil, Aberdare, UK, Wales,

Added: Friday, 10 July, 2009, 13:32 GMT 14:32 UK

More degrees does not mean more graduate jobs -- it just raises the bar to get into professions. Pressure to get more and more qualifications is detrimental to the quality of life. Encouraging people to start work later has the same effect on the looming pensions crisis as allowing early retirement. Yes, create opportunities for people to pursue academia but don't tell them that that is what one they ought to do. The government is not in a position to know what is good for individuals.

Jonathan Davies, London, UK, England,

Added: Friday, 10 July, 2009, 12:17 GMT 13:17 UK

An audience full of students responding that they don't regret going to uni is completely ridiculous and misleading. No one regrets going to uni when they are still there having a good time and racking up the debt. Ask graduates after years of job hunting/struggling to get a job earning enough to even reach the threshold to begin student debt repayments for a more realistic picture. From a recruiting perspective: uni can leave graduates with unattractive and dangerous delusions of grandeur.

Kirsty, East Kilbride, UK, Scotland,

Added: Friday, 10 July, 2009, 09:02 GMT 10:02 UK

Somewhat outside the target area of the question put to the panel, my comment is that the governmental policy of "Lifelong Learning"is a misnomer. I am 71, have just funded myself through a first degree with the OU, and would very much like to continue to a Masters, but am quite unable to afford the fee. There is no help available in this situation. Perhaps a cost trade-off could be pursued: how much might an elderly active brain save for the NHS, in helping to preserve all-round health?

Margaret Hughes, Nuneaton, UK, England,

Added: Friday, 10 July, 2009, 06:51 GMT 07:51 UK

Andy Burnham claimed we had an elitist system pre 1997. Whereas he was no doubt refering to social divisions, ironically, he was right in terms of student ability. Contrary to the many class warriors here, every UK child had the opportunity to be a doctor/engineer/lawyer providing they have the aptitude and attitude. This competition is what kept standards high. Tuition fees are now forming a barrier to modest income families.

Adam, Chester, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 23:09 GMT 00:09 UK

The large number of forgien students is a problem at art universitys where a quota is set for forgien students meaning that there is not fair competition between british and forgein students in interviews. I have experienced first hand students attending high ranking art univeristies who have little understanding or ability to convey themselves in english, dispite free english lessons offered, or just have no interest in the course at all which really makes you wonder how they got in.

Annie, Cambridge, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 23:07 GMT 00:07 UK

Very dissapointed at the elitism showed from alot of the panelists nand audiences in response to the querstion. How can it be a bad thing that more young people are staying in education and bettering themselves. Except to the upper classes who want to keep it for themselves and restrict social mobility.

Mike, Manchester, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:56 GMT 23:56 UK

One kid suggested that we should stop promoting degrees to students because they aren't the way to get a good job and lifestyle. They were spouting this rubbish when I left school. If you have the ability to obtain a degree then get one! As someone who has had many jobs since leaving school, I can say that employers definitely look for academic qualifications in higher paid jobs. Not only does it show intelligence but it also demonstrates commitment and hard work

Mike, Inverness, UK, Scotland,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:41 GMT 23:41 UK

50% of us are below average, to demand 50% to gain an academic degree has degraded what a degree means. A BA qualification is nothing! IT WAS! in 1960's 20% were accepted with 3xA levels. I was not good enough; below 20% of the Bell stastical curve . I qualified as a teacher in 1970, then got a BA, 1983 and an MA 1989 through part time study for 7 years doing a full time job. I left in 2005 as a School Inspector. A non-vocational degree is worth nothing..

Elaine McAllister, Basingstoke, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:37 GMT 23:37 UK

I don't think there are too many students but I am surprised that nobody brought up the issue of tuition fees and why is it that both Scottish and Welsh students who attend university in their indeginous countries do not have to pay tuition fees. Who I wonder actually covers the cost for these fees and would Scottish people vote for independence if they then had to pay tuition fees?

amanda smith, Dursley, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:35 GMT 23:35 UK

The major concern is the graduate jobs market. The government insisits that companies want more skills and highly educated staff yet there are too few graduate jobs, what companies really want are graduate employees working in non graduate jobs for peanuts.

Mike, Bristol, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:33 GMT 23:33 UK

The majority of the audience and pannel will have been or are at good schools for middle class people (look at the schools which won the comp for the production) ofcourse they are going to say there are too many students being let in, how could someone from a state comprehensive get a place and they didn't!! They are just annoyed that universities like raw talent instead of clones coming out from these high peforming schools with the same subjects.

F, London, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:22 GMT 23:22 UK

The main problem with over subcription to british universities. Is that there is more migrant's paying vast bursaries to gain a place in our universities from family collected finances abroad and from british aquired national's in this country. It is the sad fact that forien national 's and migrant's are willing to live in multi occupational homes because that is what they do in their own society. And we as british have become alienated with this and we tend to spread our wing's from the family

Jason Whitty, Salford, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:19 GMT 23:19 UK

And also one matter that has been mentioned earlier in the programme can relate to this subject. In most of non-EU countries attitude towards higher education is completely different. Degree is a "must", it's not a question of opinions. Therefore foreigners take their education slightly more serious, and yes - they do create a higher competition. But isn't it something that should make british students raise their standards..?

Jannet, London, UK, England,

Added: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 22:17 GMT 23:17 UK

It is rather annoying to hear british students complaining about foreign students "crowding" the universities... I'm sorry but, frankly speaking, foreign students that come to study in the UK have to pay fees that are few times higher than those for UK students, and I don't think without that money universities would still be able to provide all the facilities that ALL students share.

Jannet, London, UK, England,