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5 Reasons Why It Pays To Have A Degree In Singapore
This article was originally on GET.com at: 5 Reasons Why It Pays To Have A Degree In Singapore
We all know how competitive we Singaporeans are no matter whether we’re talking about our qualifications, how much we make, what kind of houses we live in, what kind of fancy cars we drive, what top schools our kids are studying in and so on.
Times have indeed changed and even though a recognised university degree doesn’t seem as special now compared to decades ago, we at GET.com reckon that it doesn’t hurt to have one or a few for that matter, despite the higher price tags pegged to university degrees here in Singapore.
A study done by the Economic Intelligence Unit shed light upon a 4-year degree course's estimated cost to be 70.2% of an individual’s average yearly income in Singapore come 2030, compared to a figure of 53.1% in 2015. Here, we put forth 5 reasons why it makes sense to have a degree in Singapore and it’s not just because it helps us survive better in the rat race.
5 Reasons Why It Pays To Have A Degree In Singapore
1. It Hones Our Ability To Grow, Communicate & Handle Stress Better
When we’re thrown into the depths of independent learning at university, we learn how to work with people from all walks of life; how to prioritise and manage our time, studies, incessant projects and many other commitments.
We grow to be better people, we learn how to communicate with our peers and teaching staff, we take part in school activities and embark on voluntary projects to give back to society.
A university education provides so much more than just textbook knowledge and wise words from the professors. It broadens our minds and hones our ability to think more critically and make better choices in life which always a good thing, don’t you think so?
2. It Is Essentially Equals To Higher Earning Potential
You can’t pretend this point isn’t true if you’re a typical, pragmatic Singaporean. Having a degree is akin to getting a golden ticket to a lifetime of relatively higher pay compared to those who do not have a degree, although this pretty much depends on a confluence of factors ranging from how blessed you are to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth, whether you’re your own boss, how fortunate you are in seizing opportunities and so on.
3. It Opens Up More Job Opportunities For Us
Take a fresh graduate and poly diploma holder for instance, the jobs available for the two individuals are most likely different, and so are the kind of salaries and potential career progressions pegged to these jobs.
If you intend to be a civil servant, a normal bachelor’s degree most likely isn’t enough because they’ll require you to have at least a solid second upper honours degree before they even want to sit you down for an interview. Don’t believe me? Head on over to the Careers@Gov portal to check out what’s written there.
Just so you're aware, there are plenty of jobs in the market that are only available for those with degrees, and these logically pay more since they tend to be more demanding whether it be the skills or tacit knowledge required.
Of course, if you're carving out a career with a goal for reaching managerial positions before you get a tad too old with 20 years of experience under your belt, it'll surely help for you to have a good degree amongst commendable performance, good work ethics and leadership capabilities.
That said, having a good degree gives us relatively better job stability as it acts as a safety net. It comes in real handy when you’re looking to switch jobs and move on to better places.
4. Cheaper Alternatives For Overseas Education Are Available
It is a fact that not everyone can secure a spot in our local universities (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD) and go for a tertiary education route that is subsidised by the Singapore government. And it doesn’t help when private education in Singapore can cost a bomb.
An overseas degree may cost more, but if your family can afford it, go for it. Here are 5 reasons why it’s okay to spend on an overseas degree if you need some sort of consolation or affirmation.
On the other hand, an overseas degree may not cost that much if you don’t mind venturing up north to Johor’s EduCity. Here are 5 reasons why EduCity might just be the best option for you if you don’t have a ton of money to splash out on a university degree.
5. Lifelong Learning Is Always A Great Thing
I don’t know about you but lifelong learning sounds like an excellent choice of path to me. As a matter of fact, nobody says learning has to cease once you hit your mid-20’s.
When our gloomy economy is going through cyclical business cycles, when you see a myriad of jobs whose earnings have taken a hit, when more people in the workforce are made redundant, when what our evolving industries demand of us changes, embracing a mindset involving constant upgrading and bettering of ourselves, matters.
In case you’re wondering, here are the 7 in-demand skills that will boost your employability in Singapore for 2016 and in the very near future. To align with the #1 sector in Singapore this year, IT that is, we’ve sussed out these 7 free online IT courses to give you a leg up without you needing to spend a single cent, all you have to do is put in some time and effort.
What do you think? Share your comments with us below!
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