As a father with children recently in the workforce and others coming up to working age there has been a sea change in attitudes towards University and work.
For the first time in years, several children are proudly going into apprenticeships rather than University. Some of these children are from very well heeled, well educated families - Surgeons, for example.
My own personal view is that education is still the key for those who have ambitions to better themselves in life. But it is rapidly becoming a playground for the rich.
I read that there were 57,000 places unfilled during the last University uptake. You combine this with the fact that some of the existing students will drop out, and there will be dire consequences for the University system.
I believe that London Metropolitan is unlikely to make it, and that there are 8 or 9 other Universities that are on the watch list. Also I read that major US universities (such as Stanford) are introducing low cost or free online courses and this has the UK university system rattled.