Initial vocational higher education (Policy Brief 260 - January 2012)
To meet the growing need for a skilled labour force, the OECD countries are increasingly mobilizing their education systems. This is a major challenge for France, who had set a goal in 2005 to have 50% of its class in a given generation graduate.
- Initial vocational higher education
Achieve a 50% graduation rate in higher education while simultaneously provide employment for the graduates
This goal can be achieved by focusing on graduating students, particularly at the Bachelor level. As a matter of fact, the percentage of high school graduates have increased. A reform concerning the vocational tracks has led to a higher number of graduating students from these tracks, but the rate of students from these tracks continuing on to higher education are still low and their failure rates remain high once they enroll in higher education. Higher education institutions now have two objectives: increase the proportion of university graduates and improve their employability. This policy brief discusses how the development of vocational training during university studies could contribute. Even though the proposals are centered on universities, they can be applied to the entire higher education system. The proposals aim to develop and rationalize the professional training provisions, and to adapt the training flows and patterns in other general departments to professional departments.
Summary
- Vocational training developed in a context of strong growth in student demographics and rising youth unemployment
- The development level of vocationall training in France 1966-2010
- Development of vocational training in universities: a response to the double objective of increasing the number of graduates while ensuring better employability
- Author: Mohamed Harfi, Department of Labour-Employment
Press Contact:
Jean-Michel Roullé, Head of Communications
Tel. + 33 (0) 1 42 75 61 37 - jean-michel.roulle@strategie.gouv.fr