Vocational education is training geared toward preparing students for commercial or industrial occupations. It can be acquired formally through trade schools, technical secondary schools, programs for on-the-job training, or more ad hoc through picking up the required skills on the job.
School-based vocational education is a relatively recent concept. Except for the professions, such education was only offered through apprenticeship up until the 19th century. The fact that such training was linked with a low social position as contrasted to a classical curriculum, which was regarded as “essential for a gentleman,” contributed to this scenario. But when the industry grew during the 19th century, some European nations—most notably Germany—started integrating vocational education into their primary and secondary educational systems. However, despite a few trades and junior technical schools being founded by local authorities prior to World War II, opposition to vocational education lingered in Great Britain into the 20th century.
By the late 19th century, manual training and practical arts made up the bulk of public (common) school vocational education in the United States. These initiatives were steadily expanded until 1917 when federal funding for agricultural, homemaking, and trade and industrial courses was made available to public schools.
Following World War II, there was a rise in interest in short-term postsecondary specialized training programs in these fields as an alternative to a traditional college education due to the need for trained paraprofessionals in the relatively new fields of computer science, electronics, and medical services.
In this article, we’ll try to focus on those vocational courses that are trending right now worldwide and will offer you choose the best career path out of that. We are going to discuss and evaluate those six vocational courses that are going to help you shape your future.
What are vocational courses?
Planning one’s post-secondary education after completing one’s education is a difficult task. Many secondary school students don’t view mainstream academics as their cup of tea and instead find themselves drawn to the exploration of offbeat careers. While some students find clarity about their prospective career quest about what they want to do further in life and which stream they should opt for during their secondary school stage, many don’t perceive mainstream academics as their cup of tea.
Academic institutions all around the world are introducing more and more vocational, polytechnic, and skill development courses in response to these students in an effort to equip young people with the necessary abilities to start their careers at a young age.
We are providing you with a thorough list of vocational programs through our blog, along with recommendations for the top universities and other information.
Top six vocational courses
Vocational education, also known as technical education, aims to include skill-based study and training that can give students the technical skills and abilities they need to start at entry-level employment in their chosen industry. We’ve outlined a few of the well-liked vocational programs below that you should think about taking to build your future profession.
Diploma in Biomedical Science
One of the first jobs of the future, biomedical science has a wide range of opportunities. A thorough understanding of the human anatomy, as well as the biological and physical functions of the human body, is given to students pursuing vocational courses in this discipline, such as a Diploma in Biomedical Science.
Typically, this course covers fundamental topics including Immunology, the history of infectious illnesses, Cell Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Professional and Personal Development, etc. Additionally, it is one of the well-liked short-term courses offered after the tenth grade and calls for students to have Maths and Science as their primary subjects.
Tradesman
This program, often known as general mechanics, contractors, or handymen, provides training in a variety of areas. These include carpentry, plumbing, house remodelling, and tool use. With this program, you will be certified and prepared to work as a general tradesman, performing various maintenance tasks, making furniture, and other comparable crafts.
There are numerous career opportunities available, including plumbing services, house remodelling, and self-employment. A mechanical technician diploma, an electrician certification, and other credentials are all available with comparable courses.
Network Engineering
The greatest vocational degree to choose for people who have recently finished their 12th grade and had computer science as one of their primary subjects is a diploma in network engineering. This program aims to prepare participants for entry-level positions in the fields of information technology and telecommunication, helpdesk support, etc. by providing participants with the knowledge and abilities required to design, operate, and maintain the data network apparatus of an organization. Many students also use this course as a stepping stone to enrol in various bachelor’s degree programs in networking, software engineering, and information technology.
Digital Production, Writing, and Design
One of the vocational courses that teach students how to use different digital media tools and how to create advertising, vlogs, photos, social media advertisements, etc. is this 10-month certificate course in digital production, writing, and design.
After completing your 12th-grade education, you can enrol in one of the more well-known animation schools to learn about a variety of topics, including web design, digital video and audio production, writing for journalism, digital photography, and other topics.
Your understanding of the use of media technologies to develop and manipulate digital products and communicate effectively through digital mediums will improve if you pursue this degree.
Automotive courses
You can enrol in an auto mechanic course at a vocational training facility if you have an interest in automobile technology and want to pursue a career as a technician. You will acquire the knowledge and abilities necessary to offer crucial repair services to vehicles of every make and model by taking these courses.
These are the three best-known courses in automotive:
- Diploma of Automotive Technology: This course will help you learn management skills.
- This program, Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology, is ideal for beginners.
- Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate IV: You will learn a number of sophisticated diagnosis techniques in this course.
Digital Marketing
The promotion of brands via the internet and other digital communication channels is known as digital marketing, sometimes known as online marketing. This comprises text and multimedia messages as well as email, social media, and web-based advertising as a marketing channel.
There are several courses that are offered that cover a variety of topics, from technical web development and design training to general marketing degrees and specialized SEO certificate programs. You can select to receive training in a broad digital marketing course or something more specialized depending on your preferences and skill level. Since this industry has been continually expanding, job openings at digital marketing firms are plentiful.
Who should pursue vocational courses?
People may choose a vocational course for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you have to have a certain set of talents before you can apply for a job. For instance, many people are proficient in website development and coding, but a business can demand that candidates have IT support training.
In this situation, individuals enrol in vocational programs to get an advantage over other job candidates. The likelihood of landing a job in that field increases with the level of relevance of your certification.
Other times, businesses can want to upgrade the skills of their current employees. A corporation would typically fund training in a specialized field for its staff if it is undergoing a change in direction. Similar to this, some businesses also provide reimbursement to workers who voluntarily want to learn new (applicable) skills.
Why take vocational courses?
The age of globalization and technology is currently upon us. The dynamic transformation is seen in practically every industry. Now that banking is available at our fingertips, we can simply access all of the functions of the bank using our laptops or mobile devices, which simplifies our work. Robots are replacing people in the labor, and Tesla is developing driverless automobiles.
As a result, it is crucial for students to choose careers wisely in order to stay relevant in the modern work market as technology takes over. They must put their efforts into developing the abilities that will prepare them for the future, which makes taking skill-based courses crucial.
Top universities that offer the best vocational course
Around the world, there are numerous academic institutions that provide vocational courses to students. Check out the list of colleges and universities below offering short-term and vocational programs in a variety of specializations.
- Charles Darwin University.
- Trent University.
- Bond University.
- Manhattan Institute of Management.
- Melbourne Polytechnic.
- Centennial College.
- Southern Institute of Technology.
- Georgian College.
- Kingston College.
We, therefore, think that by providing you with the top six widely-offered vocational courses that will enable you to have a brighter future and a better career, we have you covered. Consider taking a vocational course if you are passionate about or have dreams of a job in a particular field. You can select a course that meets your needs among the many respectable institutions that provide them. Whatever you choose, we wish you the best of luck and happiness in your career!
