The interviewee sat opposite me looking nervous.  He was an IT graduate with a 2.2 or as I believe it is known a ‘Desmond’. Taking a tip from a friend of mine who had interviewed a lot of IT graduates I asked him “Tell me, what part of the  course did you do best at?”  he answered “Discrete Mathematics.”  

In a feeble attempt to get him to relax I tried a joke “Well that is better than indiscreet maths.”  It didn’t help. So I said “Tell me something about  Discrete Mathematics.”  His answer went along the lines of “Er Um I think it has something to do with set theory”. I finished the interview as quickly as I could and wondered what on earth this guy could possibly have done to justify an honours degree.

Over the years, as the MD of a small software company I have had to interview a lot of Computer Science graduates.   I always set them a very simple test that would cover the rudiments of programming and SQL, the standard language for accessing databases of information. These are pretty fundamental. With a few exceptions I am surprised to find how little most of them know. Their level of basic knowledge often contrasts with impressive projects which they have allegedly undertaken at University.  

I think this is such a shame, because university is a fantastic opportunity.   You get three years to study a subject that  interests you, all the books, equipment and advice that you could want.  I know a lot of people that have thrown themselves at the subject and really benefited, but to come out of that with only a very vague understanding of the subject and an honours degree indicates to me two things:

1. Many of the Computer Science undergraduates should not be there because they are not really that interested in the subject. I started working with computers because I looked on them as ‘the best train set ever’.  I think many people go into computer science because some careers officer tells them that they will get a good job at the end of it. Wrong. You will end up stacking shelves unless you are really interested in the subject. 
2. The Universities give degrees out like candy.  If more people failed the subject then people would think twice about taking or continuing the course unless they really thought they would pass.

The solution

My solution would be to

1. Set up an independent organisation to award first degrees, with very high standards. 
2. Universities to refund a portion, say half, of tuition fees to failed students. This would incentivise universities to encourage students to leave or change course if they were not making the grade.