Alexandra Shulman, Mail on Sunday's recent articles

Amid talk of culling what are described as 'Mickey Mouse' degrees, none of us can tell what form of knowledge will stand in good stead in years to come. In fact, perhaps we should be expanding the choice of education. An example: Last weekend I stayed with friends in the barn they have lovingly restored in Devon, complete with babbling brook, wildflower meadows, roaming cows happily munching grass and woodpeckers dangling from bird-feeders. At every turn, my hosts' expertise shimmered. They could identify every birdsong, name every flower, explain the intricacies of stonewall building - all complete mysteries to us urbanites. They don't have degrees in horticulture or agriculture but have taught themselves a huge amount about the natural world. ...read

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Amid talk of culling what are described as 'Mickey Mouse' degrees, none of us can tell what form of knowledge will stand in good stead in years to come. In fact, perhaps we should be expanding the choice of education. An example: Last weekend I stayed with friends in the barn they have lovingly restored in Devon, complete with babbling brook, wildflower meadows, roaming cows happily munching grass and woodpeckers dangling from bird-feeders. At every turn, my hosts' expertise shimmered. They could identify every birdsong, name every flower, explain the intricacies of stonewall building - all complete mysteries to us urbanites. They don't have degrees in horticulture or agriculture but have taught themselves a huge amount about the natural world. ...read