What do you think about university?

No.
I think the best education teaches you how to think.
If you got a top grade from a prestigious university in the past you would have learned good cross referencing, searching, condensing, questioning and other analytical skills.
You would have learned to challenge orthodoxy and reflect on the "why" of things.

I think there are too many "high" grades these days but you still have to go the extra mile to get a 1st I think.

Do you think universities are truly beneficial?

YES

Also, if uou go on to a higher degree you don't always have instructions!

I’m a real advocate of university.

What I’m “against” are now the many careers which now insist on degree educated staff when, other training or ways to train would actually work better.

In my opinion, the previous system for training Primary School Teachers, Nurses/Midwives and Social Workers worked very well.

I think the choice of completely a degree should be there, but, again it’s only my opinion, if the study leads directly into a job and the degree is being done because it’s the main way of entering such a job, especially where the professional is one where we have a shortage of staff, Nurses, Doctors, Midwives, Radiologists, Teachers, Dentists, to name a few, then I truly believe the degree should be free of direct charges to the student and maintenance grants should be re-introduced. There could be strict conditions imposed, for example, get the student loan for fees and the maintenance grant each year, but if and when the degree is gained, cancel the debt, then another rule that means they have to spend the next 5 years working in the UK.

Universities and degrees teach so much more than just the academic qualification, but the drive since Blair’s “Education, Education, Education”, speech has resulted in pushing students into degree education that they are unsuited to and don’t help them into suitable sustainable work.

Education comes in many forms, not just with Universities.

Btw, I don’t “subscribe” at all OP to your “instructions” and “slaves” ideas.

Most degrees require critical thinking, research, brains being used. GCE’s or GCSE’s as they are now known, might match better to your described, but higher and further education most certainly doesn’t. (IMO)

When I was doing my doctorate in my fifties (on the side while working full time) I read a statement on the canteen wall: ' Education is about making your mind an interesting place to be. Or words to that effect. I've always appreciated learning about different ways to think as well as just new knowledge and understanding.

I agree with NotSpaghetti. A good university should teach you how to think. So should a good school, for that matter.

I feel it is too easy to go to university now, and standards at some have inevitably deteriorated.

Perhaps the OP isn't in the UK.

I think there are huge benefits from a university education though I do think some of the people who are given degrees are not that bright , especially recently. There is pressure on staff not to fail students, particularly overseas ones and that is not a good thing. I think the obscure degrees given out for some subjects these days are not that helpful and do not contribute to clarity of thought and capability.