Vocational university

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Building of Cologne University of Applied Sciences
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Building of The Hague University of Applied Sciences
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Building of Breda University of Applied Sciences

A vocational university or university of applied sciences (UAS), less commonly called a polytechnic university [1] is an institution of higher education and increasingly research that provides applied professional education and grants academic degrees. It should not be confused with vocational schools or technical schools that do not meet the strict standards of higher education nor have the ability to grant officially accredited academic degrees.

Contents

In some countries, a vocational university more precisely grants professional degrees like professional bachelor's degree, professional master's degree and professional doctorates. The term is not officially used in many countries and an assignment to a certain type of university in a certain country's educational system is therefore difficult. The UK once had a very extensive vocational university sector with its polytechnic system dating back to the mid-19th century. Vocational universities are often regulated and funded differently (for example, by the local government rather than the state) from research-focused universities, and the degrees granted are not necessarily interchangeable.

Education

The education at vocational universities combines teaching of both practical skills and theoretical expertise. It can be contrasted with education in a usually broader scientific field, which may concentrate on theory and abstract conceptual knowledge. There is also the historical background that an educational institution was called a university in the Middle Ages only if a certain classical canon of subjects was taught (typically including philosophy, medicine and theology). In modern times, other subjects, namely natural and engineering sciences, became more important, but institutions of tertiary education focusing on these subjects and not offering the classical canon have been until recently or are still denied the prestigious denomination "university" in all countries. They had to use other, more general terms (which in many languages are false friends of the English term "high school", sometimes with modifiers), including Fachhochschule in German, Haute École in French (Belgium and Switzerland), Hogeschool in Dutch, Høyskole in Norwegian, Scuola universitaria professionale in Italian, etc.

There are different varieties, including vocational universities of applied sciences (also named polytechnics or institutes of technology), vocational universities of liberal arts, etc. In recent years, many vocational universities have received full university status, such as the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, formerly Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien), or the Örebro University, Sweden (formerly Örebro Högskola). There are also some establishments which now have full university status but continue to use their former names, such as the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

In Europe

Austria

Finland

In Finland, vocational universities are called Ammattikorkeakoulu (Yrkeshögskola in Swedish, translated "university of applied sciences", literally "vocational high school"). They focus on vocational education and do not grant licentiate or doctorate degrees.

Certain universities are called korkeakoulu because they effectively have only one faculty, e.g. Teatterikorkeakoulu, the Theatre Academy, whereas universities with several faculties are called yliopisto. The term ammattikorkeakoulu (AMK) creates some confusion with korkeakoulu, because traditionally AMK's were not considered universities. A graduate of university of applied sciences (ammattikorkeakoulu) is eligible for doctoral studies in Finnish universities (yliopisto).

Germany

The term vocational university is not used. In contrast to traditional German universities, a Fachhochschule (translated "university of applied sciences") has a more practical profile. Universities of applied sciences grant academic bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. In some federal states, research-intensive universities of applied sciences have the permission to grant doctoral degrees (e.g. Hesse or Saxony Anhalt). Otherwise, doctoral programs must be carried out in cooperation with degree-awarding institutions such as universities. Furthermore, Berufsakademie is a college type strongly inspired by the dual education system. A Berufsakademie is called a university of cooperative education in English and only grants bachelor's degrees. This type of institution was first created in the German state of Baden-Württemberg and now exists in Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia, but not in the other German states. In 2009, Baden-Württemberg transformed its Berufsakademie into a new type of institution, which until now only exists in that state, a "Duale Hochschule". In English, this type of institution is also called university of cooperative education, but a Duale Hochschule also offers master's degrees.

Greece

In Greece, comparable institutions to the vocational universities (or perhaps better to the universities of applied sciences) are the technological educational institutes (TEIs). These constitute part and parcel of the higher education in Greece and offer in their own capacity bachelor's and master's degrees, and soon doctorate degrees. [2]

On the other hand, the term college in Greece may refer, among others, to the institutions that are officially titled Centres of Post-lyceum (secondary) Education. These have a solely professional, i.e. non-academic, orientation according to existing Greek law, and are so far only private. However, they run in collaboration with foreign authorities, such as universities and accreditation organisations, that may recognise them academically. They may offer professional bachelor degrees of minimum three years, as well as master's and doctorate degrees.

Italy

An Istituto tecnico superiore (abbreviated ITS – Higher Technical Institute) is an Italian tertiary educational institution. They were established in 2008, and are modelled on the Fachhochschule system of Germany. Programs have a duration of two or three years, and require a high school degree for access.

Netherlands

As of January 29, 2008, a Dutch hogeschool(HBO) may call itself a "university of applied sciences" in English. [3] Just like the German 'Fachhochschule', these HBO institutes firstly have a practical profile. They focus primarily on teaching the practicing of a profession at the highest professional level and applied science research, at the state of the art. This as opposed to research universities (Dutch: "universiteiten"), that focus on the highest level of professional practice, as well as practicing theoretical research. [4] This so-called binary system of professional and academic education co-exists with upper secondary vocational education, which provides vocational education at EQF levels 1-4 for equal, similar or different professions. [5]

Universities of applied sciences offer associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. [6] From 2022 onward there will be pilots on Professional Doctorates. [7]

Hogescholen in the Netherlands have been provided with the right to conduct research by the revised Higher Education and Research Act (WHOO) 2010. [8]

Sweden

The main difference between universities (universitet) and vocational universities (högskola, official translation university college) is that only the former ones have the right to award doctorate degrees in all subjects they offer. Some vocational universities have been given such rights within limited areas of research.

Switzerland

United Kingdom

In Asia

Mainland China

China is home to the largest vocational education system in the world. In 2018, Mainland China had a total of about 11,700 vocational schools. [9]

Examples:

Hong Kong

Iran

University of Applied Science and Technology

The University of Applied Science and Technology (UAST) is a public university administrated by Ministry of Science, Research and Technology with various branches all over the Provinces of Iran. This university helps to increase skill level of employed personnel in various sectors of economic field and graduates of higher education and professional skills that are lacking in administrative. It is an educational system inspired and derived from 'Community College' in the United States. With more than 1500 education center in all corner of Iran. UAST confers degrees in over 100 programs at the associate, bachelor's and master's degree levels.

Technical and Vocational University

The Technical and Vocational University (TVU) is one of Institutes of Higher Education under control of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. The university has more than 176 schools and colleges across the country and more than 220 thousand students is one of the largest universities in Iran.

Malaysia

There are five public vocational universities in Malaysia:

Sri Lanka

In 2009, the first University of Vocational Technology was established under the purview of the Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training. There are also nine College of Technology in Sri Lanka. [10]

Taiwan

In Taiwan, vocational university is called University of science and technology or University of technology.

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">College</span> Educational institution or part of one

    A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary school.

    An academic degree is a qualification awarded to a student upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions often offer degrees at various levels, usually divided into undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The most common undergraduate degree is the bachelor's degree, although some educational systems offer lower-level undergraduate degrees such as associate and foundation degrees. Common postgraduate degrees include engineer's degrees, master's degrees and doctorates.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctorate</span> Academic or professional degree

    A doctorate or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism licentia docendi.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in the Netherlands</span> Overview of education in the Netherlands

    Education in the Netherlands is characterized by division: education is oriented toward the needs and background of the pupil. Education is divided over schools for different age groups, some of which are divided in streams for different educational levels. Schools are furthermore divided in public, special (religious), and general-special (neutral) schools, although there are also a few private schools. The Dutch grading scale runs from 1 to 10 (outstanding).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Undergraduate education</span> Academic programs up to the level of a bachelors degree

    Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education, usually in a college or university. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, a student pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree is known as an undergraduate student while a student pursuing a master's or doctoral degree is a graduate student. Upon completion of courses and other requirements of an undergraduate program, the student would earn the corresponding degree. In some other educational systems, undergraduate education is postsecondary education up to and including the level of a master's degree; this is the case for some science courses in Britain and some medicine courses in Europe.

    <i>Fachhochschule</i> Type of vocational educational institution in German-speaking countries

    A Fachhochschule, abbreviated FH, is a university of applied sciences (UAS), in other words a German tertiary education institution that provides professional education in many applied sciences and applied arts, such as engineering, technology, business, architecture, design, and industrial design.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Vocational school</span> Higher-level learning institution providing education needed for specific occupations

    A vocational school, trade school, or technical school is a type of educational institution, which, depending on the country, may refer to either secondary or post-secondary education designed to provide vocational education or technical skills required to complete the tasks of a particular and specific job. In the case of secondary education, these schools differ from academic high schools which usually prepare students who aim to pursue tertiary education, rather than enter directly into the workforce. With regard to post-secondary education, vocational schools are traditionally distinguished from four-year colleges by their focus on job-specific training to students who are typically bound for one of the skilled trades, rather than providing academic training for students pursuing careers in a professional discipline. While many schools have largely adhered to this convention, the purely vocational focus of other trade schools began to shift in the 1990s "toward a broader preparation that develops the academic" as well as the technical skills of their students.

    An institute of technology is an institution of tertiary education that specializes in engineering, technology, applied science, and natural sciences.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">University of applied sciences (Finland)</span> Finnish institution of higher education

    An ammattikorkeakoulu, abbreviated AMK, is a Finnish institution of higher education.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Windesheim University of Applied Sciences</span> University in The Netherlands

    Windesheim University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch vocational university institute for higher education and research. With over 27,000 students and over 3,000 staff at sites in Zwolle and Almere, Windesheim is one of the more prominent universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. Elsevier and Keuzegids HBO have ranked Windesheim second among the universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands for several years in a row.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Belgium</span> Overview of education in Belgium

    Education in Belgium is regulated and for the most part financed by one of the three communities: Flemish, French and German-speaking. Each community has its own school system, with small differences among them. The federal government plays a very small role: it decides directly the age for mandatory schooling and indirectly the financing of the communities.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Savonia University of Applied Sciences</span> University of applied sciences in Northern Savonia, Finland

    Savonia University of Applied Sciences is a local municipality-owned Finnish institution of higher education based in the cities of Kuopio, Iisalmi and Varkaus.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Satakunta University of Applied Sciences</span>

    Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) is a university of applied sciences in the Satakunta region of Finland. The university is headquartered in Pori and offers additional instruction in Huittinen, Kankaanpää and Rauma.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences</span> Public university in Karlsruhe, Germany

    The Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences is a university of applied sciences in Karlsruhe. It is the second largest university of applied sciences in the state of Baden-Württemberg, offering both academic and professional higher education study programmes in engineering sciences, natural sciences, and business. Given the concentration of research centers and universities in and around Karlsruhe, the university of technology offers a wide range of courses on campus respected in the industry and academia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Engineering education</span> Educational activity of teaching knowledge and principles of engineering

    Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education, and any advanced education and specializations that follow. Engineering education is typically accompanied by additional postgraduate examinations and supervised training as the requirements for a professional engineering license. The length of education, and training to qualify as a basic professional engineer, is typically five years, with 15–20 years for an engineer who takes responsibility for major projects.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences</span>

    Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is one of Finland's largest universities of applied sciences. The institution is fully supervised and accredited by the Finnish government through the Ministry of Education and Culture. The university's primary facilities are in Pasila, Helsinki. It has other premises in Haaga, Malmi, and in Porvoo and Vierumäki.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Oulu University of Applied Sciences</span> Polytechnic university in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland

    Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OAMK) is a university of applied sciences in Oulu, Finland, with approximately 9,000 students, including around 240 international degree students. The number of incoming exchange students annually is approximately 280.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolia University of Applied Sciences</span>

    Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is the largest University of Applied Sciences in Finland. The university offers a total of 93 degree programs in the fields of Business, Culture, Health Care and Social Services, and Technology.

    The Regensburg University of Applied Sciences is a university of applied sciences (UAS) in Regensburg, Germany. It was founded in 1971 as a college for technology, business and social work, but has roots in the mid 19th century. Today the university is one of the largest institutions of applied sciences in Bavaria. Its eight faculties offer 28 Bachelor's degree programs, 20 Master's degree studies as well as five postgraduate courses. Emphasis is laid on Engineering and Computer Sciences, and Law, Economic and Social Sciences.

    References

    1. ↑ "Google Books Ngram Viewer". books.google.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
    2. ↑ "Διδακτορικά από ΤΕΙ- Η επιστολή του υπ. Παιδείας προς τους προέδρους των ΤΕΙ" [Doctorates from TEIs - The letter from the Ministry of Education to the presidents of TEIs]. Καθημερινή Ηλεκτρονική Εφημερίδα για την Παιδεία (in Greek). 9 April 2017. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
    3. ↑ "Nuffic - Nederlandse organisaties - Nieuws & Evenementen - Nieuwsarchief - 2008 - Februari - Engelstalige naam voor Nederlandse hogescholen" [English name for Dutch universities of applied sciences]. Nederlandse organisaties - Nieuws & Evenementen - Nieuswarchief (in Dutch). 2008-02-06. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
    4. ↑ Ministerie van Algemene Zaken. "Wat zijn bachelor, master en associate degree in het hoger onderwijs?" [What are bachelor's, master's and associate degrees in higher education?]. Informatie van de Rijksoverheid (Information from the National Government) (in Dutch). (Ministry of General Affairs). Retrieved 2024-01-06.
    5. ↑ van Houten, Maarten Matheus (2018-01-02). "Vocational education and the binary higher education system in the Netherlands: higher education symbiosis or vocational education dichotomy?" . Journal of Vocational Education & Training. 70 (1): 130–147. doi:10.1080/13636820.2017.1394359. ISSN   1363-6820 . Retrieved 2024-01-06– via Taylor and Francis Online.
    6. ↑ "Regeling van de Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap van 11 december 2013, nr. 528477, houdende een wijziging van de Regeling andere toevoeging aan wo-graden in verband met het vaststellen van de referentielijst internationale herkenbaarheid titulatuur hoger beroepsonderwijs en het vaststellen van graden met toevoegingen" [Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture and Science of 11 December 2013, no. 528477, containing an amendment to the Regulation on other additions to university degrees in connection with establishing the reference list for international recognition of higher vocational education titles and establishing degrees with additions]. Staatscourant van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (in Dutch). Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap. 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2024-01-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
    7. ↑ van der Zwan, Frank (2021-10-25). "Professional Doctorate - The Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences". Vereniging Hogescholen (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-06.
    8. ↑ "Archived copy - Research report 2007/2008". Research Institute for Innovation & Business - Hogeschool Utrecht. 2008. Archived from the original on 2013-04-06. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
    9. ↑ "Statistical report on China's vocational education in 2018". en.moe.gov.cn. Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
    10. ↑ "University of Vocational Technology". SriLanka Today. 2009-03-30. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2024-01-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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