Alex Jordan says degrees are not simply for getting jobs

Alex Jordan says a degree is not necessarily about getting a job, arguing that education can have a much broader purpose in preparing people for life.

Speaking on the Corey Shepherd Podcast, the Caribbean broadcaster reflected on the growing debate over whether pursuing a university degree remains worthwhile, particularly when a qualification does not guarantee employment.

Jordan said she often hears people question why they should spend years pursuing a degree when they could instead enter the workforce and begin earning money.

But she believes that approach overlooks an important part of education.

“A degree is not for a job,” Jordan said.

She explained that learning about a broad range of subjects, yourself, your culture and the wider world can help develop the ability to think critically and understand different perspectives.

For Jordan, one of the most valuable things education can provide is learning how to learn, a skill she believes can be applied far beyond academics.

Her own educational journey reflected that philosophy. At 16, instead of following the traditional A-level route, Jordan attended a United World College and pursued the International Baccalaureate, allowing her to maintain a broader range of subjects.

She later studied Caribbean and Latin American Studies at McGill University, covering areas including politics, languages and geography.

Jordan said that broad foundation eventually became valuable in her broadcasting career, despite her professional path taking her into areas she had not originally studied for.

She pointed to her eventual career as a cricket broadcaster as an example. Jordan did not play cricket and said she initially had limited technical knowledge of the sport, but believes her command of language, curiosity and wider understanding of culture and people helped her develop as a broadcaster.

Jordan encouraged young people to remain curious and avoid viewing education only through the lens of immediate employment.

For her, education is not simply about obtaining a qualification for a particular profession. It is also about developing the ability to understand, question and navigate the world.