Allsopp, who presented the Handmade Fair event at Hampton Court Palace last weekend (19-21 September), said: "Have just discovered you can study Events Management over 4 years at uni? WTF?! Go and work for an events company and they'll pay you #Daft [sic]."
She added: "To the folk who said an events management company wouldn't give you a job without a degree, you are totally wrong. Good companies want young people with strong CVs which show they can pull their weight, muck in and learn fast - not degrees."
After chairing an impromptu Twitter debate, she concluded: "I do believe in tertiary education, I just don't believe in paying for something you could learn on the job. So many degrees are a rip-off."
While many championed Allsopp’s views, others were quick to point out that many agencies show preference to degree-holders. Jess Child said: "Yes, the events part was time wasted, got all experience on placement. Need a degree just to get an interview though."
Steph de Nitto commented: "Half the companies won't offer you experience without being on a course, trust me."
Other professionals in the events education sector were surprised by the TV presenter’s comments. Sehar Graham, programme leader in events management at Manchester Metropolitan University, told Event: "Recent events such as London 2012 have highlighted how essential the UK events industry is, in terms of supporting jobs and creating a positive image for host cities. Why then, would employers not want to employ the best events management graduates to manage and run those very events?
"Event management degrees provide students with the principles of business management, an essential grounding in finance, marketing, HR, operations and strategy, health and safety and leadership; as well as bringing insight into current issues that affect events and events management. Events management degrees - which have been written in conjunction with the events industry - provide work-ready, solid and professional event managers."
What do you think of Kirstie Allsopp's comments? Comment below to let us know what you think.
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