Merryn Somerset Webb

And, you know, anyone who can say with confidence they know what the jobs of the deaf tomorrow might be, that's a fanciful notion, I think, in this environment.

Nonetheless, are we equipping our young people, and indeed some not so young ones, with the sets of agile, malleable, fungible capabilities that

as distinct from specific skills to enable them to ride the rapids or whatever the new technology waves.

So no, we are not.

And that's what I'm talking about.

You know, playing our cards right means equipping our young people with those agile, fungible capabilities.

What do you think they are?

You're sending a kid to university today.

I mean, this is the question we get asked all the time.

So I'm going to get you to answer it.

You're sending a kid to university today.

What are you telling them to study?

Well, I'm not sure what's in the university.

I think the NEET rate for graduates is now higher than for A-level students.

Yeah, yeah.

So there'd be a question about whether that is the right thing.

Certainly the way it's been done historically, do I want a block of three years studying something that I've half thought about on my UCAS form?

But that's less clear to me.

What are the sets of capabilities?

that will best enable me to surf the waves of technology?