Task 2: Some people think that all university students should study whatever
they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that
will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
People have different views about how much choice students should have with
regard to what they can study at university. While some argue that it would be
better for students to be forced into certain key subject areas, I believe that
everyone should be able to study the course of their choice.
There are various reasons why people believe that universities should only offer
subjects that will be useful in the future. They may assert that university courses like
medicine, engineering and information technology are more likely to be beneficial
than certain art degrees. From a personal perspective, it can be argued that these
courses provide more job opportunities, career progression, better salaries, and
therefore an improved quality of life for students who take them. On the societal
level, by forcing people to choose particular university subjects, governments can
ensure that any knowledge and skill gaps in the economy are covered. Finally, a
focus on technology in higher education could lead to new inventions, economic
growth, and greater future prosperity.
In spite of these arguments, I believe that university students should be free to
choose their preferred areas of study. In my opinion, society will benefit more if our
students are passionate about what they are learning. Besides, nobody can really
predict which areas of knowledge will be most useful to society in the future, and it
may be that employers begin to value creative thinking skills above practical or
technical skills. If this were the case, perhaps we would need more students of art,
history and philosophy than of science or technology.
In conclusion, although it might seem sensible for universities to focus only on the
most useful subjects, I personally prefer the current system in which people have
the right to study whatever they like.
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