When choosing between the vocational qualifications or degrees when embarking on the search for the right career, then the choices can be daunting. Each way includes its own set of benefits and disadvantages for the future, which are described below.
Understanding Vocational Qualifications
Vocational qualification is intended to prepare students with working knowledge and skills pertaining to the functioning of an organization or business. These are concentrated academic programs and take a shorter time compared to degree programs thus can be an ideal choice to students who want to start working immediately in certain disciplines.
Types of Vocational Qualifications
Vocational qualifications encompass a wide range of programs, including:
Certificates:
These first-level qualifications give core learning for a particular employment opportunity. They normally last from six months to one year and may be accessed through colleges or independent training companies.
Diplomas:
Provided to convey advance information and expertise, diplomas usually take two years to attain. They are useful for anyone who wants to start in a particular field and may be useful for those who want to continue to more advanced levels.
Apprenticeships:
This system allows a student to learn alongside, with the technical competence being acquired through the practical learning Via apprenticeships, on job training is acquired while the student is undertaking his/her studies part time. It usually takes about four years to undertake, and on their completion one is cooked with employment or further studies.
Industry certifications:
These are occupational qualifications with most offered at the national industrial level and awarded after one has gone through tests or an examination. These show that a candidate is capable to perform a particular trade or aptitude and can help advance a career.
Advantages of having Vocational Qualifications
The benefits of pursuing vocational qualifications are numerous:
Practical skills:
Other vocational courses are usually market-oriented preparing students for the job market through the attaining of specific work related qualifications.
Industry relevance:
It also ensures that qualification is developed with help of industry professional ensuring that knowledge and skills taught in the programming are up to date with the market requirements.
Faster completion:
Vocational qualifications generally are more concise than degrees therefore, students are able to progress into their working life faster than by undertaking a university degree or embark on a course whilst working or looking after a family.
Affordability:
The courses leading to vocational qualification are, in most cases cheaper than degrees, thereby fitting any budget.
Direct career path:
When course completions the vocational qualifications it provides the necessary skills and knowledge for job market to get the job opportunities and to be employable in respective industries.
Disadvantages of Vocational Qualifications
While vocational qualifications offer numerous benefits, there are some drawbacks to consider:
Limited transferability:
If these qualifications are not acknowledged or transferable from one trade to another or region to another, their prospects in the job market may not be as impressive as those of degree holders.
Perceived lower prestige:
It is a typical stereotype that vocationally related courses take a lower rank than degrees; therefore, some employers and colleagues may look down on the qualifications.
Potential for lower earning potential:
Graduates with vocation qualifications are likely to earn less than graduates with degree especially those in the competitive occupations.
May require further training:
In some cases they may not complete their courses to the required level to open up higher level job or industries and may have to upgrade their education or certification.
Types of Degrees
Degrees are offered at various levels:
Associate’s degree:
Programs that can be completed in two years of full-time learning, associate’s degrees prepare graduates for employment, or for transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in a related field.
Bachelor’s degree:
These nominal 4-year degrees afford a wide and thick knowledge of a certain subject area and are often required for a number of career or graduate school positions.
Master’s degree:
Available after the bachelor’s degree and offering higher level of education, knowledge and skills, in a specific field, master’s programmes equip graduates for leadership or specialized positions in their field.
Doctoral degree:
The advanced forms of education, doctoral degrees include a heavy dosage of research and normally spans over several years. These are generally intended for those desiring to advance their industries and typically pave the way to an academic career to either teach or do research.
Benefits of Degrees
The pursuit of a degree offers several advantages:
Broader knowledge base:
Education allows for correlation of knowledge from a broad spectrum of related subjects to the field you have chosen, bringing you a definite understanding of all the aspects of your work area.
Versatility:
Holders of degrees can go almost anywhere furthering their education and using skills and knowledge acquired, they can switch to any field if they wish to.
Higher earning potential:
There are several situation when graduates with degrees have better opportunities to be paid more than those who received vocational qualifications, especially in the field that need higher levels of skills or knowledge.
Personal development:
Studying for a degree results in an enormous number of changes in the individual, which includes cognitive gains in critical thinking skills, problem solving, personal and interpersonal communication skills thereby expanding the person’s ICT literacy.
Further education opportunities:
Most degrees offer learners an opportunity to proceed to the next level of education and enhance their careers.
Drawbacks of Degrees
While degrees offer numerous benefits, there are some potential drawbacks to consider:
Time commitment:
Obtaining a degree is also a process that takes sevral years of full-time work, which could be hardly possible for those, who have to work or take care of their families.
Cost:
Tuition fees and living expenses may be comprehensive, and degree programs take longer compared to others; therefore, it can be costly.
Theoretical focus:
Although, a degree provides knowledge, it may lack applicability, specialties, techniques or hands on exposure which are required from someone who is directly entering the job market.
May not guarantee employment:
Though having a degree can help one gain better employment, it does not guarantee that one will be employed at all, especially in the current world where competition is rife or when one wants to join ??reformed’ professions.
Vocational Qualifications vs. Degrees: Which is Right for You?
Therefore, it remains up to the learner to decide whether Employability skills or Qualifications and degrees are best suited to their current and future life style, career progression and learning ability. When deciding which Event Academy path to pursue, consider the following factors:
Career aspirations:
Determine the kind of entrance into a specific career or industry and then determine the kind of qualifications that are highly valued in that field.
Learning style:
Think of whether it better for you to have more applied and experiential learning or more curricular and academic learning.
Time commitment:
Consider your schedule and the amount of time you will be willing and able to devote to completing your chosen qualification whether it is a short vocation or a longer degree.
Financial resources:
Calculate the price of the qualification, including the cost of your education, fees and living expenses or financial support opportunities including grants and loans.
Personal values:
Consider own needs and wants values to be an independent learner, that might include, for example, having a job immediately after the completion of the course or enhancing subject content knowledge and becoming an expert in a certain field.
Conclusion
Deciding between a vocational qualification or a degree rests on what suits your needs, your career goals and the way you see yourself learning. The good thing is, both have their place and the best choice is going to be the one that works with your professional and personal situation. If the job of your dreams requires certification, take a moment to think through your ambitions, your finances, and what your chosen career field will demand of you.
