Higher education must not resemble schools

Wendy Powell’s comments on design graduates face pitiful job prospects (DW 15 November) refer to an article published the previous week which was a synopsis of a report on courses in design studies and media studies, not design per se. And I have reservations about the synopsis of the report by Smithers & Robinson until it is published in its full form and not subject to journalese.

While graduates need to be able to focus on business performance, this is only one aspect of design. We also require individuals capable of leading in-depth visual, ethical and social debates through study of a subject. This study should not be myopic, but broadly applied through all the other of our disciplines. Industry requires people with foresight, not just those who package an idea and market it.

Professional bodies must get their act together, as the worst case scenario would be to subject higher education to the same vagaries as the curriculum of our schools.

Georgina Follett

Head of design

Duncan of Jordanstone College

Dundee DD1 4HT