Vocational Training - What's That?

There are two different types of Vocational Training. The first type is commercially oriented vocational training programs. These are operated by for profit organizations which have primary interest in the amount of profitability rather than the specific functional areas of coverage which are offered. The second type of Vocational Training comes from the academic community. The two types of educational organizations most often involved in vocational training are High Schools and Junior Colleges. Undergraduate programs and Graduate Schools are rarely involved in vocational training.

The commercial vocational education programs typically offer both home study programs through correspondence/websites as well as local on site, hands on, training. There are some Junior Colleges who also offer home study programs. One barrier to entry to the commercial vocational training is the enrollment costs. These can be quite expensive. Typically the High School and Junior College vocational training classes are much less expensive than their commercially offered cousins. This applies to both local, hands on, training as well as to home study programs.

One problem with home study programs is that they are self paced. Students often sign up for such programs but lack the self discipline to continue them until completion. This often makes for a high drop out rate.

In the cases where completion of a course counts for credit toward a work related skill. The motivation exists so that completion rates grow larger.

The High School and Junior College locally based hands on vocational training programs are often somewhat limited in the functional areas which they teach. This often because of facilities constraints. There be limited space available. In some the space available is unsuitable for the type of training being performed. For example, a classroom is not a suitable place to conduct a class in performing auto body repair.

The other common limitation facing schools offering hands on training, is finding qualified people to teach the courses. It is often difficult to obtain experienced instructors for many of the functional areas for which hands on training is appropriate.

One lack that exists in the entire vocational system is a training program which provides the skills needed to improve productivity. Topics such as productivity improvement, work measurement, methods and procedures, budgeting and conducting Requests for Quotations (RFQ) are rarely addressed. This is despite the fact that productivity improvement opportunities are available in most if not every enterprise.

Many organizations have functional areas where potential productivity can be as high as 45% of the cost of the function. Few enterprises have less than a 5% opportunity for productivity improvement.

These disciplines can benefit from both hands on training and from self paced study programs. Improved communication with businesses as to the huge scope of productivity improvements will also be helpful.