Handy school of thought
VOCATIONAL education provides school students with important skills in problem-solving, leadership and communication — proving it is just as valuable to those wanting to continue on to university as it is for those pursuing a trade.
Technical college principal Dr Paul Rijken says the days of discouraging academically gifted students from undertaking VET are long gone.
“The truth is that today we have a more blended approach to academic and vocational learning, providing the best of both worlds and [being] of greater benefit to preparing young people for the future,’’ Rijken says.
“Advice from our industry partners continues to emphasise the importance of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity and problem-solving, leadership, motivation and commitment as critical.
“Vocational learning allows for these skills to be well covered in training courses and work placement, in addition to core skills related to a trade or vocational pathway.’’
Training manager Justin Mamo says VET in-school programs allow students to leave their post-school options open, with many enjoying the experience so much they choose to study at a higher level than they originally planned.
“We’ve seen students who, for example, start [an engineering program] with us and say, ‘You know what, I might take the uni pathway and go and become a civil engineer’,’’ Mamo says.
“So they go [to uni] with that trade background, and have the ability to problem-solve and to think more practically and they become highly valued.’’
He says students at some schools often have to catch up on classroom study missed while undertaking VET, but at other institutions students can benefit from having classes scheduled around their on-site or workplace training, making it easier to succeed in both streams.
Mamo says for those students continuing along the trade route post-school, there is often the added security of already being signed up to a host employer through a school-based apprenticeship.
Year 12 student Jye Thomson, 16, started a school-based electrotechnology apprenticeship last year and believes the workplace skills he has already learned will stand him in good stead.
“You can learn the basics in the classroom, I guess, but there’s so much more pressure [in the workplace] where there’s an actual customer you’re dealing with,’’ he says.
“I’ve learnt customer service skills and how to work with other tradesmen. If there’s someone you’ve never met before you have to learn how to communicate with them and get along with them. It’s all been really awesome.’’