Wednesday 22nd June was VQ Day, an annual event organised by independent education foundation Edge that promotes and celebrates the value of practical, technical and vocational education.
Widespread changes to our education system are currently front of mind for the government, media and public alike. As such, VQ day 2011 presented a timely opportunity to discuss alternatives to the traditional academic route through further and higher education.
Here at Home Learning College we strongly support any initiative that champions the development of practical workplace skills. There is a clear need to move away from the pervasive view that university is the only course of progression following secondary education, particularly in light of dramatically increased tuition fees and high levels of graduate unemployment.
It is an unfortunate fact that vocational study is too often viewed as the poor relation of academic achievement. However, the vocational bracket also covers practical courses associated with many professional, white collar professions such as IT or accountancy.
In contrast to academia, a practical qualification is designed to develop tangible skills that are highly valued by employers and make a real different to an individual’s capability to perform a given role. Gaining a recognised professional qualification is one of the best ways to add weight to a CV and gain an advantage in a competitive job market.
This year’s VQ Day proved a great success, with Edge reporting the involvement of over 300 schools, colleges and work-based learning organisations across the country getting involved. We look forward to seeing more attention focused on the vocational sector in coming months and to our bit to highlight the positive impact that professional study has had on our students’ lives.