Sorry to post again but I still feel very bitter about this. Over half a century ago Belfast Technical College, which had trained apprentices for the shipyard, Shorts aircraft factory, motor mechanics, electrical technicians, plumbers -- all the trades we now hire in from East Europe -- was renamed the Polytechnic, and later the University of Ulster. Who would want the old, dirty manual jobs when they could go to 'Uni' preferably after a gap year junketing around the world?
Most of the old industries have gone too and as of this year the country can't make its own steel, can't generate its own electricity when it's calm and dull, can't feed itself because farms have been merged into vast subsidy-attracting multinationals, and all too many are finding the years at 'Uni' have indebted them for decades to come. Almost 2 million students have student debt of £50k or more, but they have degrees in meejah studies, social engineering etc.
Just try finding a plumber or builder, mechanic aircraft or car ...