Higher qualifications provide evidence of your ability to cope with and exploit complexity and the abstract. They show that you have a well developed capacity for learning and demonstrate maturity, discipline, a commitment to long term achievement, and strong personal management skills among other things. Specialist knowledge might get you into a profession, but the attributes above are what determine how well you contribute to your employer (self or otherwise) and consequently, how far you can progress in your career. Many careers are primarily dependent on the application of these attributes as opposed to specialist knowledge. Higher education is an easily verifiable and widely acknowledged way of developing them. Getting your qualifications isn't a complete waste of time, even where you pursue a career different to what you trained for. At the very least, simply having a qualification leaves open the option of pursuing a career in your profession at a later date.

I'll post a relevant link when I find one, but for now just take my word; It's a proven fact the world over that better educated people are generally the highest paid. The financial evidence speaks for itself.

I think its up to the individuals that hold these diplomas to think outside the box. There are some that have obvious career e.g. Nursing due to high demand world wide. Most people have trouble of using their degrees right away due to low demand and high competition or how well the person did in terms of grades/honors etc. This does not underrate any degree. As malawians we have to get higher education in the masses because every profession is underdeveloped. 

sepu 

I have always found it desirable to get career professional advice and recognize the specific educational and training needs demanded on the labour market and the gap level, if existing, between the academic qualifications and the labour market demands. You shall never be trapped.

well i`ve been thinking about the criteria behind the UNIMA selection still cant get round it.