All about vocational courses abroad

Trades and vocational skills have been taught in the Indian subcontinent for millennia, mostly as know-how passed down through generations in families and communities, so much so that to this date certain communities are associated with expertise in certain professions. Examples of these are jewellery-making and designing, carpentry, crafts, pottery, weaving and many more such arts that require extensive training and dedicated practice to master. With the software and IT-enabled industries (ITES) growing phenomenally in the last 30 years, the scope of what could be considered vocational courses has widened.

 What are Vocational Courses?

Vocational courses are courses or training programmes that emphasise and deliver practical/ technical knowledge and skills to students to equip them for specific occupations/trades.

In India, Vocational skills are, largely, picked up or transmitted informally and unofficially, and a lot of the people who earn a living with their vocational knowledge do not have certified practical skills. Even though the situation is set to improve, currently most vocational courses taught in India lack the rigour and the supporting infrastructure to generate effective outcomes.

In this article, we will explore the potential for Indian students to take up vocational courses in universities abroad in a few different sectors.

Vocational education is offered under different categories and different names in colleges and universities abroad – as:

• Technical and Further Education (TAFE) courses in Australia
• Business and Technology Education (BTEC) courses and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) in the UK
• Diplomas and Certificate courses in the USA (and in other countries as well), and under other names as well.

Let’s understand the benefits of doing a vocational course abroad for Indians:

What are the benefits of learning Vocational Courses?

Exposure to diversity – cultural, social and economic

Vocational schools, especially the more renowned ones, tend to be a hub for students from vastly different backgrounds. As a student on a vocational course, you tend to meet, mingle, learn and work with those from not only different cultures but also those in varied socio-economic circumstances. The focus on mastering a particular skill/ vocation tends to break down barriers, something that may not always be the case in conventional academic degree programmes.

A vocational degree from abroad will help you recognise your worth

Greater quality consciousness pushes colleges and universities abroad to impart the best training possible to students, who also act as brand ambassadors of the institutions they graduate from. More credible certification of their skills helps them command fairer compensation for their skills and work – something that is more or less ensured by the minimum wages that they are required to be paid by government stipulation. This is quite different to the situation on the Indian subcontinent where they are arbitrarily and often poorly paid.

Vocational courses are opportunities to build networking skills

Students work in close tandem with their classmates and professors and engage in active collaboration with different groups of people to get a job or a project done. As a result, they get first-hand experience of working as a team, something they can leverage through their lives.

Extension of a passion into a possible profession

This is true in the case of those students who assess their strengths and weaknesses and identify their passion in life. What could be better than if what you’re passionate about can be turned into a possible professional option? It’s rare that people have the opportunity to turn their passion, or at least one of their passions, into their profession; vocational courses help you do just that and commence an exciting professional journey.

What are some vocational course options?

Let us examine the different course options in five varied domains covering a wide spectrum of subject areas:

·       Agriculture

·       Food Science and Technology

·       Human Resources and Management

·       Computer Science

·       Civil Engineering

Vocational Agriculture Courses Abroad

Agriculture will stay relevant as a subject till we discover newer ways of sourcing food and raw materials for a host of other needs. Vocational course options in agriculture span a wide spectrum and include certificates and diploma options in:

• field vegetable production
• horticulture production
• livestock production
• animal care services
• aquaculture
• fishing operations and much more.

Here are some course options that you might want to explore:

Subject	Courses
Agriculture	Certificate in Arboriculture Co-op Certificate in Urban Forestry Foundation Certificate in Agriculture Certificate in Agriculture (Farming systems) Certificate in Forest Harvesting Diploma in Horticulture - Food and Farming
Agriculture technology	Diploma in Fish and Wildlife Technician (Optional Co-op) Agriculture Technology Diploma Certificate of Agricultural Equipment Technician Operations (Level 3) - Strand in Basic Machine Operation and Landing Operations
Aquaculture	Certificate in Aquaculture Foundations Graduate Certificate in Science (Aquaculture) Graduate Certificate in Aquaculture Co-op Diploma of Aquaculture
Livestock	Livestock Production Certificate Certificate in Animal Management (Companion animals) Certificate in Animal Technology, Strand in Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Australian universities, unsurprisingly, in the country known for innovations in agriculture, offer a lot of options, followed by universities in Canada and New Zealand.

Destination	Universities
Australia	TAFE International Western Australia TAFE Queensland The University of Melbourne TAFE NSW
Canada	Saskatchewan Polytechnic The University of the Fraser Valley Fleming College Algonquin College
New Zealand	Ara Institute of Canterbury Manukau Institute of Technology Otago Polytechnic Southern Institute of Technology

Vocational Food Science and Technology Courses abroad

Food Science and Technology is a fast-growing field which involves knowledge and the use of biology, chemistry and engineering to preserve, package and distribute foods. Course options include certificates and diplomas in:

·       food safety techniques

·       food science technology

·       nutrition science

·       health science

·       laboratory technology

·       chemical engineering and more.

Vocational Food Science and Technology Course Options:

• Advanced Diploma in Food Science Technology (Optional Co-op)
• Certificate in Food Safety and Security Techniques
• Diploma in Nutrition Science
• Diploma of Laboratory Technology (Food)
• Diploma of Health Sciences (Nutrition and Food Science)
• Diploma of Food Science and Technology
• New Zealand Certificate in Baking (Generalist)

Canada, Australia and New Zealand offer sought-after vocational courses in Food Science and Technology.

Country	Institutions
Canada	St. Lawrence College Centennial College Niagara College
Australia	TAFE NSW Australian Catholic University TAFE SA Curtin College William Angliss Institute
New Zealand	NZMA

Vocational Human Resource and Management Courses abroad

Human Resources Management (HRM) has been a conventional field of study ever since the days of factories during the industrial revolution and later on, in more modern industrial sectors. The basics of Human Resource Management are currently included in virtually all business administration courses. As vocational courses go, options include certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas in business administration, accounting, performance management and more. Canada, the USA and Australia are destinations to head to for vocational courses in HRM.

Here are some vocational Human Resource Management course options abroad:

·       Advanced Diploma in Business Administration Human Resources

·       Diploma in Business – Human Resources

·       Certificate Degree in Human Resource Management

·       Business Human Resources Program

·       Human Resources Certificate

·       Business Studies Certificate – Human Resources Management

·       Ontario College Diploma in Business – Human Resources

Countries and institutions for Vocational Human Resource Management courses:

Country	Institutions
Australia	TAFE NSW The University of Melbourne Australian Pacific College CQ University Australia
Canada	St. Lawrence College St. Clair College George Brown College Fleming College Bow Valley College Okanagan College
USA	Golden West College

Vocational Computer Science Courses abroad

Computer Science, being part of the conventional academic stream and making its presence felt multiple sectors and domains, offers plenty of vocational course options. Certificate and diploma courses are on offer in various subjects such as information technology, business analytics, cyber security, game development, animation, health informatics and plenty more. Canada, the USA, Australia and Singapore are among the top study destinations for vocational studies in computer science and related fields.

What are some vocational Computer Science Course options?

·       Advanced Diploma in Animation and Game Development

·       Diploma in 3D Modeling for Animation and Games

·       Advanced Diploma in Computer Programming and Analysis

·       Advanced Diploma in Energy Systems Engineering Technician

·       Advanced Diploma in Computer Systems Technology Networking

·       Advanced Diploma in Electromechanical Engineering Technician – Robotics

·       Certificate Degree in Software Development

·       Certificate Degree in Graphic Design Website Design

·       Computer Systems Technician Program

·       Advanced Diploma in Computer Security and Investigations

·       Advanced Data Analytics for Cybersecurity

·       Diploma in Animation Art and Design

·       Certificate in Information Technology (Web Development)

·       Machine Learning Analyst Diploma

Countries and institutions for Vocational Computer Science courses:

Country	Institutions
Canada	Loyalist College St. Lawrence College Fleming College LaSalle College Vancouver NorQuest College Langara College
Australia	The University of Technology Sydney – UTS Western Sydney University TAFE International Western Australia UNSW College TAFE Queensland
USA	Golden West College Montana State University Southwestern Community College

Vocational Civil Engineering Courses abroad

Civil Engineering is probably among the oldest professions on the planet, at least in existence from the time planned structures and infrastructure needed to be built. The field is overall a broad one but encompasses plenty of vocational study options to hone skills in, such as certificates and diplomas in water engineering, structural engineering, marine engineering and many more. Canada and Australia offer a wide range of vocational courses in civil engineering.

Which are some of the vocational Civil Engineering course options abroad?

Some of the course options you can try abroad are:

• Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering Technologist
• Diploma of Civil and Structural Engineering
• Diploma of Civil Construction Design
• Water Engineering Technology Diploma
• Advanced Diploma Civil Engineering Technology – Transportation
• Diploma of Civil Construction Design
• Ontario College Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology (Optional Co-op)
• Ontario College Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology

Countries and Universities for Vocational Civil Engineering Courses:

Countries	Institutions
Australia	TAFE International Western Australia TAFE NSW The University of Adelaide Reach Community College
Canada	Fanshawe College Georgian College Durham College Canadore College

The options available, at least for the five fields examined, seem to point towards Australia and Canada offering students a greater number of options when it comes to the vocational stream, as compared to the traditional education heavyweights, the UK and the USA.

Factors to consider before joining Vocational Courses abroad

Opting for vocational education and making choices within that stream requires careful consideration of certain factors:

Career goals:

What exactly is it that you want to do professionally for a major part of your life? Is earning a lot of money a prime reason for you making certain academic and professional choices, or are you seeking a vocation that would further an interest or inherent talent of yours? Keep in mind a few potential limitations of choosing a vocational course, one of them being you not having as much scope to explore different subjects or a combination of subject areas as there might be in a conventional degree programme, as you are focused extensively on honing just a few skills. This same fact might also make it relatively tougher for vocational students to adapt to changes in workplace settings.

Interest/talent:

Be aware of your talent and strengths. What are some of things that you seem to have a natural inclination towards or a ‘feel’ for? Are you an electrical/ electronics whiz? Or perhaps you have a creative bent of mind and are a budding artist? How important is it for you to stay connected to your area of interest? Evaluate whether that is worth more than enrolling in a conventional degree programme.

Employment prospects:

The amount of money you aim to make in life may be different to those who opt for more conventional academic options but scope for employment is something you must check for. Is the area you plan to specialise in prominent in the current era and likely to be so in the foreseeable future? Are individuals with similar skill sets in demand? Do you have enough resources and is there scope for you to be self-employed relying on your skill?

Programme accreditation:

Is the programme or at least the institution you’ve applied to, formally recognised, by means of an award or an accreditation of a credible body? Does the name of your institution carry weight in industry circles and does your college/ university have a good track record of turning out competent graduates? Another key factor to check is the quality of the actual programme – best ascertained by student feedback and a careful assessment of their curriculum and modules.

Entry requirements for vocational courses abroad

There are vocational courses you can join after the 10^th, some that you can join after completing your higher secondary course and some others which you can join after completing a degree in the relevant field.

The entry requirements vary from one institution to another and from one course to another. The best route forward is to pick the course of your choice and check the entry requirements. However, here are some of the basic entry requirements:

-          Completion of 10^th or higher secondary as required by the course

-          A minimum IELTS score of 5.5. Some courses ask for a higher IELTS score.

-          Some institutions also have a minimum age requirement.

Here are some examples of entry criteria set by different institutions for joining their vocational courses:

For the Certificate III in Agriculture offered by TAFE, Australia, you should have completed 10^th grade and also score an IELTS score of 5.5 or above.

For the Agriculture Technology Diploma offered by the University of Fraser Valley in Canada, you should have completed B.C. secondary school, which is equivalent to India’s higher secondary education. You should also have an overall IELTS score of a minimum of 6.5 with a minimum band score of 6.0 in every skill.

For some courses like the Advanced Diploma in Food Science Technology (Optional Co-op) offered by Centennial College, you should have either completed higher secondary schooling or should have ‘mature student’ status – which means, you should be 19 years or older. You should also have an IELTS score of 6.0 or above with no individual band less than 5.5.

As with most major choices in life, vocational education comes with its obvious positives and evident risks, in comparison to a conventional education. An honest self-assessment and some effort put in to research how a vocational course is likely to take your career forward, and in what manner, can help you make what will definitely be among your most important decisions at the threshold of adult life.