University Is Dead. Apparently.

Spend enough time online and you will quickly encounter the same message: university is a waste of money, a poor investment, everything worth learning can be found on YouTube, and artificial intelligence will soon make degrees irrelevant. As with most sweeping statements, there is usually a grain of truth mixed with a great deal of exaggeration.

Universities are certainly not perfect institutions. They face significant challenges, some degrees undoubtedly offer stronger returns than others, and higher education must continue to evolve in response to technological change, shifting labour markets and legitimate questions around value for money. University is also not the right choice for everyone, nor should it be. Vocational routes, apprenticeships and alternative pathways deserve far greater recognition and respect than they have historically received and, if the tech bros are to be believed, these may soon become some of the most desirable and valuable routes available.

However, the increasingly fashionable narrative that universities are somehow obsolete strikes me as profoundly misguided, even in the UK, where many institutions undoubtedly need to undergo significant change and evolution.

When we need a doctor, an engineer, an architect, a scientist or a teacher, we still expect expertise. When society faces complex challenges, from climate change to artificial intelligence, we turn to researchers, academics and specialists capable of advancing knowledge and solving difficult problems. Interestingly, many of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world continue to send their own children to leading universities. They seem remarkably reluctant to follow their own advice that higher education no longer matters.

There is also the question of accountability. We are frequently told that professions such as law and accountancy will soon be swept aside by artificial intelligence. Perhaps aspects of these professions will change dramatically, and indeed they should. However, I suspect there will always be a need for human expertise, judgement and accountability. You place your trust in your accountant to prepare your business accounts. If something goes wrong during an HMRC investigation, it is difficult to imagine many people simply turning around and saying, "Don't look at me, ChatGPT did it."

At precisely the moment some commentators are declaring universities irrelevant, many of the world's most valuable AI companies are investing heavily in individuals with deep expertise in mathematics, philosophy, computer science and other disciplines requiring years of rigorous study. Why? Because information is abundant. Expertise is not.

Universities do far more than simply transfer knowledge. At their best, they develop critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, resilience, independence and the ability to engage with complexity and uncertainty. In other words, they help people learn how to think, not simply what to think.

Higher education is not beyond criticism, and it must continue to change. But nor is it dead. Far from it. In an increasingly complex world, the ability to think deeply, learn continuously and solve difficult problems may prove more valuable than ever.