The Rise of Vocational Education | Why Skills Matter More Than Degrees

For a long time, people thought that if you wanted to have a successful career, you had to have some type of college degree such as a B.A., B.Com, B.Sc., and/or an Engineering Degree. Many families pushed their kids into these programs by telling them that once they got their degree, they would be able to get a good job and support themselves into the future. Today, this idea is no longer valid. Industries are changing so quickly and technology has changed how jobs are performed and what employers want from their employees. It is not enough anymore to have an academic credential; employers are looking for employees with practical work experience and skills. The demand for vocational education has grown significantly, and in India, it is one of the fastest-growing forms of education (right now, there is an explosion of interest in vocational education).

Vocational education teaches students how to do, not just learn. It shows students how to use tools, complete tasks and solve problems; these are actual skills that employers expect when hiring new employees. In this new world of employment, an employer expects employees to be job-ready when they are hired. The gap between theoretical knowledge gained through academic education and the acquiring of the skillsets necessary for employability can be closed by vocational training. An employer will have value added to the skills they can expect their new hire to provide from day one.

• Why Vocational Education Is Rising

Vocational Education is gaining immense popularity because it provides access to the job market without a large time or financial commitment on behalf of the student. No longer do students want to spend several years learning how to memorize theories that are not typically utilized in practice. They prefer to spend that time learning the skills necessary to become self-sufficient, confident individuals who have the ability to generate income quickly (as opposed to 4-5 years after starting college). Vocational Education provides students with access to affordable, short-term, industry-developed educational programs.

Furthermore, employers have shifted their thinking regarding the value of an individual's educational attainment. Employers now understand that simply obtaining a degree does not mean the person is actually able to perform their job effectively. An individual who has practical experience is more valuable than an individual who merely knows how to define terms in a textbook. With the way industries are constantly changing and evolving, there is an increasing demand for skilled workers, who can perform a variety of tasks, over obtaining higher-level academic qualifications.

]Arpana assists aspiring students and families in locating their best-fit pathway into higher education or value-based decision making,