COMMERCIAL DEGREES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17139, 19 April 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

COMMERCIAL DEGREES.

Among the various changes which the war has brought to the women's world is that of the attitude of the commercial world, which has opened wide its gates to the educated and the university woman (says a writer in an exchange). Before the war I was much interested in the question, and my experience was that the commercial world was decidedly chary in the matter. _ It was dubious of her ability to "stick at things." It was skeptical as to her being'" practical." It was cautious of her culture.

Now it is assured of the one, it has proved the second, it needs and values the third, so the girl of good intellect attracted to commercial activities, stands a much better chance than formerly of interesting and lucrative work. What of her training? Certain of the British universities have for some years past provided commercial training. They instituted a commercial diploma and a commercial degree open to men and women. These courses, naturally, are not so widely known as the older-establishad degrees, but) the girl who intends to take a thorough and valuable training for her business career cannot do better than apnly to the nearest university and see what it offers in this connection.

Facilities differ, and the regulations vary a little, Some universities offer a degree course—minimum three years; some a diploma of —minimum two yeans; some have not yet instituted either.

One has made arrangements whereby a student in business during the day can take the course by means of evening study. Some have instituted special single evening courses in commercial sub jects. Graduates in other subjects have the usual facilities of shortened terms of

study. The purpose in the case of each university supplying the course is to provide a thoroughly useful and systematic training in certain essential subjects, but naturally there is sufficient elasticity to meet the particular requirements of students—e.g., those desiring to take especially banking, shipping, or insurance. The curricula include such subjects a? production, distribution. exchanitH, organisation of industry, business meihods. mercantile law, accountancy, commercial geography, a modern language other than English, railway economics, and similar subjects useful to the student in her future profession. Reading over the syllabus of work the various senates have drawn up quickly convinces one that it must be intensely interesting. The studious, however, must beware of being attracted to the degree course by the interest of the groundwork. For earning one's livelihood in the commercial world » a vastly different, much more strenuous matter, from earning it in the professional world. The woman, too, who graduates with a commercial degree must remember that much depends upon herself, her own personality and enterprise, and upon the important question as to whether or not she possesses "the business instinct." No amount of qualifications and certificates can outweigh the lack of the latter attribute.

On the other hand, the commercial world is almost unlimited in its opportunities to the clever and the right woman. Ability, foresight, organisation, a trained observation, and powers of criticism usually mean loss of wastage, improved output, increased trade, increased profits. And if the well-trained woman worker can achieve these desiderata, promotion, good remuneration, interesting ( work, and further opportunities can be made to follow.