There's also a distinct difference between polytechnic and university
Renaming polytechnics to universities in a scam to misappropriate funds (universities deserve more of the public purse, and quite rightly so) doesn't change the fundamental difference between them: clever people go to universities, thick people go to polytechnics. Polytechnics are the YTS of the academic world.
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 20:33, 2 replies)

Unfortunately
Due to the misguided vision of our great politicians, universities are now being populated by people of lower intelligence than was previously the case.

Not worthless people, by any means. Just those whose talents would better have been exploited by learning a trade, for example, than doing a degree in media studies.

I'm all for everyone getting the best possible education, but the fact remains that only a small proportion of the population are sufficiently intelligent, in an academic way, to attain a worthwhile university degree. Those same people may well make absolutely useless plumbers, for example.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 21:30, closed)

I wouldn't consider someone who goes to a FE College or a Poly and gets a HND or a Foundation Degree as thick

( h3donist tryin' to play me out as if my name is Sega.., Wed 14 Apr 2010, 23:26, closed)

Certainly not
Often such people are working and studying part time, which usually requires much more effort than studying and getting pissed every night. Being better at/preferring practical skills to sitting in a classroom doesn't equate to being thick.
( Greenbat, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 23:44, closed)

Thanks for using the qualifier "usually"
I was ready to pounce on this post before I noticed that. :P

My brother has a practical/placement diploma in animal care and worked hard for it. I don't really think it's better/worse, just a different way of learning. He would detest research as much as I would loathe shoving a thermometer up a kangaroo's bum. But I guess I'm weird like that. ;)
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 10:33, closed)

My teacher friend would, and does so frequently.
He also describes them as workshy, idle dossers who are taking up valuable space in his HND and Foundation Degree classrooms solely to avoid going out and getting proper jobs.
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Thu 15 Apr 2010, 1:10, closed)