International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) - Shelby ...

Vocational and Technical Education
Overview
Technical Education
Technical education in India refers to programs ranging from sub-degree (certificate or
diploma) to postgraduate levels in technical fields that fall under the purview of the All
India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) as stipulated by the AICTE Act of 1987:
– Engineering & Technology
– Management
– Computer Applications
– Architecture & Town Planning
– Pharmacy
– Hotel Management & Catering Technology
– Applied Arts and Craft
Technical education programs at the first degree and postgraduate levels, such as
Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Master of Engineering (ME) and Postgraduate Diploma in
Management (PGDM) have been discussed in the previous chapter, Higher Education.
This chapter covers technical education at the sub-degree level, sometimes called
technician education. It is mainly conducted by polytechnics in the form of three-year
diploma courses in engineering and technology, with entry normally based on the
completion of secondary school (Class 10). Holders of a diploma in engineering and
technology may be allowed lateral entry into the second year of a four-year Bachelor of
Engineering (BE) or Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) program.
Some polytechnics and colleges offer higher diplomas, often called post diplomas or
advanced diplomas, which last one to two years, with entry based on the completion of a
first diploma or a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, when combined with a first diploma
in the same field of study, a higher diploma may be considered equivalent to a bachelor’s
degree for employment purposes. Some professional associations offer memberships that
are considered equivalent to a diploma or higher diploma in technical education.
Vocational Education
Vocational education in India generally refers to programs from secondary school to
university levels that prepare students for employment or self-employment in various
technical and non-technical sectors.
While work-related education is an integral part of school curriculum at all stages,
vocational education in the form of specialized vocational subjects is first introduced in
secondary school (Classes 9-10). The higher secondary stage (Classes 11-12) divides into
the academic stream and the vocational stream, with the latter enrolling about five
percent of the students. The vocational stream prepares students for employment or selfemployment
in “unorganized” or unregulated sectors.
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