Education which is aimed at the preparation of students for their present or future employment. Often undertaken in colleges of further education, it can also take place on the job in the workplace itself. A wide range of vocational qualifications is usually available, some from chartered award-giving institutions, others from professional organizations. In addition, pre-vocational education is available for pupils of school age who wish to acquire work experience and explore the nature of different careers before making their choice.
Vocational education might be contrasted with education in a usually broader scientific field, which might concentrate on theory and abstract conceptual knowledge, characteristic of tertiary education. Vocational education can be at the secondary or post-secondary level and can interact with the apprenticeship system. Increasingly, vocational education can be recognised in terms of recognition of prior learning and partial academic credit towards tertiary education (e.., at a university) as credit however, it is rarely considered in its own form to fall under the traditional definition of a higher education.Up until the end of the twentieth century, vocational education focused on specific trades such as for example, an automobile mechanic or welder, and was therefore associated with the activities of lower social classes. Vocational education is related to the age-old apprenticeship system of learning.
However, as the labour market becomes more specialised and economies are demanding higher levels of skills, governments and businesses are increasingly investing in the future of vocational education through publicly funded training organisations and subsidised apprenticeship or traineeship initiatives for businesses. At the post-secondary level vocational education is typically provided by an institute of technology, or by a local community college.
Vocational education has diversified over the 20th century and now exists in industries such as retail, tourism, information technology, funeral services and cosmetics, as well as in the traditional crafts and cottage industries.
VET internationally
Australia
In Australia vocational education and training is post-secondary and provided through the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system and by Registered Training Organisations.
Commonwealth of Independent States
The largest and the most unified system of vocational education was created in the Soviet Union with the Professional`no-tehnicheskoye uchilische and, Tehnikum.
Finland
There are two kinds of vocational education, secondary and post-secondary. Secondary education at a vocational school (ammattikoulu) is usually taken immediately after primary school, at ages of 16-21. The education is primarily vocational, and little academic general education is given.
With academic or vocational secondary education one can enter higher vocational schools (ammattikorkeakoulu, or AMK).
German language areas
Vocational education is an important part of the education systems in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland (including the French speaking part of the country).
The vocational education systems in the other German speaking countries are very similar to the German system and a vocational qualification from one country is generally also recognized in the other states within this area. This type of institution offers degrees (Diplom(FH), Bachelor's and Master's degrees), which are one of the worldwide rare examples of a higher education that is considered in its own form to fall also under the (local) definition of a vocational education.
Singapore
In Singapore, the Institute of Technical Education provides vocational education after secondary education. This is different from the Institute of Technical Education because it provides the opportunity to continue onto higher education such as University degrees. Historically, junior high schools and high schools have offered vocational courses such as home economics, wood and metal shop, typing, business courses, drafting and auto repair, though schools have put more emphasis on academics for all students because of standards based education reform.
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the largest national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers. "Image 2000: A Vision for Vocational Education." VOCATIONAL EDUCATION JOURNAL 66, no. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION JOURNAL 62, no. "The Marketing of Vocational Education." VOCATIONAL EDUCATION JOURNAL 62, no. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION JOURNAL 68, no. "How to Market Vocational Education." "Improving the Status of High School Vocational Education." VOCATIONAL EDUCATION JOURNAL 62, no.
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