Snapchat: University degrees can't be the main avenue into the tech industry

The tension in the Couchman household on Tuesday morning was unbearable. My daughter was one of the many thousands across the country anxiously awaiting A-Level results.  It would be more than simply celebration or disappointment. The opening of the envelope promised to be a life-changing moment that would determine not just the next few years of education but, in all likelihood, the course of her career.  Mercifully, after a very difficult 18 months for students everywhere, she did well – and I’m impossibly proud of her.  Later however, after the news had sunk in, I reflected on the pressure she had been under, like all A-level students before her. Knowing that a poor grade can have such a significant impact on the future seems not only cruel but also irrational.  As someone who is fortunate enough to be in a senior position in my field, I have a good understanding of the skills and qualities required to make it in the tech industry. Without a doubt, it is those who are capable, well-rounded, thoughtful, determined, and passionate who stand out and go far – and yet the sum total of those skills is not always reflected in that dreaded envelope.…
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