Last week I paid a visit to the University of Suffolk. I frequently visit the university, but it was great to learn a bit more about the new dental centre that will be based there.

This is great news for both Ipswich and Suffolk.  

Foundation year dental students, who have just completed their five year degree and are building up their practical experience, will work in this dental centre alongside more experienced dentists to carry out up to 60,000 NHS dental appointments every year!

This will all happen on the top floor of the James Hehir building.

On the floors below, large numbers of dental technicians and nurses will also be trained in these high skill roles.

There will also be a new dental nurse apprenticeship that Suffolk New College will be involved with, further linking two great local educational facilities.  

Following this incredibly exciting tour, I visited the new Health and Wellbeing Centre. This new centre was partially funded by the Government’s new Town Deal fund.

The university is determined to step up its work when it comes to filling shortages of those working in health and social care.

In this centre, like with the dental centre, the university is playing a vital role which benefit many Ipswich residents. 

It is right that we recognise the role that many new universities like the University of Suffolk are playing in this regard. 

However, more generally at a national level, I think it’s fair to ask ourselves the question, have too many young people been going to universities? And, have they been studying the right courses? 

Clearly for many young people, going to university is the right thing for them.

Many have a clear sense of what they want to do and benefit from the cultural and social experience of going to University, where they make key friends and contacts for life.

However, I also get the sense that many young people almost sleep walk into university without a clear sense of what they want to do.

Many just go as it’s seen as ‘the thing’ to do, and other alternatives such as apprenticeships haven’t been adequately promoted. 

The consequence is that often these young people graduate from university without the skills the country needs and the skills that they themselves need to get on and get the type of job that commands the kind of salary and career path they were hoping for. Often, with a mountain of student debt.

Often, failing to pay off the debt that the taxpayer then ends up picking up. For some therefore, it has undoubtedly become the case that the dream of university which is sold to some, ends up leading to disappointment. 

For many decades as a country, we haven’t focused enough on the skills that the country needs. Which is a big part of the reason we have the skills shortages that are currently seen.

We’ve had a whole education system that seems geared towards getting as many people as possible to go to university, when often this isn’t what is best for some or the country. 

The Government was right to ditch the 50% target for all people going to University. This was an objective set out by the previous Labour Government and I think it is right it has been reviewed. 

Much more funding needs to be directed towards Further Education Colleges. Apprenticeships need to be encouraged and promoted far more. Careers guidance should begin as early as primary school.

And in my view it’s important that new Universities see their primary role as linking up people in their areas with the job opportunities that exist and will soon exist locally by giving them the skills they need.

Not simply getting “bums on seats” and expanding for the sake of expanding with no clear vision.