KNOCK-on effects from the present economic downturn can be detected in areas far removed from the world of commerce.

In the UK, for example, applications from people wanting to enter further education are up by almost eight per cent. The link between the recession and demand for further education places is, of course, the scarcity of jobs. Those about to leave school will be aware of employment market conditions and many will see an extension of study as a useful and more appealing alternative to joblessness.

Here in Jersey the upward trend in applications is, so far, harder to detect, but an important and welcome statement has been made by Education Minister James Read. He has promised that there will be no shortage of funds for those gaining places at university.

If extra funding is required, it is likely to come from the Stabilisation Fund, the £140 million reserve which has already been earmarked as a means of minimising the effects of recession. This makes consummate sense, not only as a short-term expedient to ensure that young Islanders do not miss vital opportunities but also as a longer term measure to bolster the economy. The Island needs skilled people and university can be an important step on the path to acquiring relevant skills.

In general terms, plans to make money available for education and training mesh perfectly with an important principle that must be borne in mind during recessionary times – preparing to bounce back after the downturn is over is as important as coping with its immediate effects.

Meanwhile, although many eyes will be on UK universities and the opportunities that they offer, no one should forget our own excellent centre for further study, Highlands College. Principal Ed Sallis says that there are already indications that student numbers will increase, and it clear that any resources for those continuing education on the other side of the Channel should be matched for those who choose to study here.

Highlands is no longer the poor relation – if it ever was – and the range of courses, including degrees, that it offers plays an indispensable part in equipping large numbers of young people to enter the workforce with knowledge and abilities that are highly valued by employers. In the present circumstances, this is more important than ever.