After finishing 9th grade or school, many graduates are faced with a choice: what to do next? Should I go to work or continue my education? And if you continue your education, where: at a university, technical school or college? If you choose between technical school and college, which is better to choose? In general, what is the difference between a college and a technical school?
After finishing 9th grade or school, many graduates are faced with a choice: what to do next? Should I go to work or continue my education? And if you continue your education, where: at a university, technical school or college? If you choose between technical school and college, which is better to choose? And in general, What is the difference between a college and a technical school??
What is the difference between a college and a technical school?
The Model Regulations on a secondary specialized educational institution (educational institution of secondary vocational education) provides a clear definition of such concepts as “college” and “technical school”:
- college- secondary specialized educational institution that implements professional educational programs of basic and advanced training;
- - a secondary specialized educational institution that implements professional educational programs of basic training.
In other words, and technical school and college provide basic knowledge of the chosen specialty. The only difference is that in college there is a mandatory emphasis on in-depth training in a specialty and therefore the learning process can last up to 4 years, while in a technical school it can last up to 3 years.
It is also necessary to note one more, invisible to the uninitiated, but very significant difference between a college and a technical school. College graduates who want to continue their education at a higher educational institution are more prepared than technical school graduates. This is explained not only by in-depth training in the specialty, but also by the fact that many colleges are based on universities. That is, in colleges very often lectures are given by university teachers, and final exams are equivalent to entrance exams to a higher educational institution. If the college is not based on a university, then it, as a rule, has a contractual relationship with a certain university, due to which college graduates are provided with benefits upon admission.
Which is better, technical school or college?
Based on the foregoing, it becomes clear that technical schools are primarily engaged in training specialists at a professional basic level, that is, professional skilled workers. At the same time, colleges train higher-class specialists, and the choice of specialties in colleges is much wider than in technical schools.
Therefore, if you or your child cannot decide, What is better technical school or college?, you must first decide what you are trying to achieve. If your plans are limited to obtaining a profession that is in demand, but still working, then you can opt for a suitable technical school. If you plan not only to get a specialty, but also to continue your education in the future, then it is best to choose a college.
In addition, when choosing between a college and a technical school, it is necessary to take into account the fact that colleges offer a greater variety of specializations, not only technical, but also creative or highly specialized (for example, designer, lawyer, etc.).
Where is it better to continue education, at a university or college/technical school?
When choosing between higher education, you must clearly understand that universities provide education based on theory, while colleges and technical schools focus on practice. In other words, after graduating from university you will be a certified specialist, but without work experience, so you will have to start your career in any company from practically scratch. But graduates of colleges and technical schools can immediately after employment apply for a salary of the appropriate level, since they will already have work experience and a sufficient level of knowledge behind them.
Children who choose a secondary vocational education institution need to understand the question of how a college differs from a technical school in order to understand all the nuances of education. Completing ninth grade is an important stage in the life of every student. The teenager receives a certificate, and now he has to make a decision about where exactly he will study next. Will it be the tenth or eleventh grades at school, college or technical school.
Quite often, children choose a secondary vocational education institution, after which they can enter a university, or they can immediately go to work in their specialty. However, both children and parents do not always understand the difference between educational organizations. Indeed, what is the difference between a college and a technical school?
What is a technical school?
Today, technical schools are educational organizations in which young people are trained in secondary vocational education programs as part of basic training.
Technical school students receive basic knowledge and consolidate it in practical classes. Children can enter a technical school after the ninth or eleventh grade. The duration of training may vary, depending on the specific specialty, usually two or three years. The educational process is close to school.
The specificity of the technical school is that it is more aimed at teaching blue-collar professions; the program is highly specialized. Education at the technical school ends with the awarding of a diploma of secondary vocational education. The graduate is also awarded a technician qualification in a particular professional field.
What is college?
A college is an organization that implements secondary vocational education programs within the framework of both basic and advanced training.
While studying in college, students receive more theoretical and in-depth knowledge in a certain professional field; their studies take approximately three to four years.
The educational process in college is reminiscent of studying in higher education institutions: students study in semesters, listen to and take notes on lectures, take tests and exams during sessions. You can enroll in colleges after the ninth or eleventh grade.
Colleges offer a wide variety of technical or creative education programs. After completing their studies, students are issued diplomas of secondary vocational education, as well as a document confirming qualifications in a particular professional field.
Today, there are many colleges organized at institutions of higher education. The management of universities and colleges enter into bilateral agreements. University teachers teach classes at secondary vocational education institutions, and quite often the final certification in college is counted as an entrance test at the university. One of the most serious privileges of college is the opportunity to enter a university without passing the Unified State Exam. In addition, college graduates entering a university for programs that are a continuation of the educational material they have completed can study at the university under a shortened program.
So, the differences between studying at a technical school and college:
- duration of study: in colleges - three or four years, in technical schools - two or three years (for those admitted after 11th grade), three to four years (after 9th grade);
- organization of education: in technical schools, education is modeled after a school, while in colleges it is more reminiscent of a university;
- level of training: technical schools provide only the basic level, and colleges provide intermediate and higher levels;
- The focus of educational programs is purely practical in technical schools, and both practical and theoretical in colleges.
Where is it more prestigious to study?
After graduating from a technical school, a graduate can only obtain the qualification of a technician, and after graduating from college, he can obtain a qualification at a higher level - senior technician.
Types of professions: in technical schools there are only blue-collar professions, and in colleges - blue-collar and creative professions.
Thus, we can conclude: many aspects of these institutions of secondary vocational education are similar, but the actual process of vocational training in technical schools and colleges contains significant differences.
In colleges, the level of vocational education can be basic or advanced, but in technical schools it is only basic. Russian technical schools are more highly specialized, aimed at teaching only blue-collar jobs
Now that the Russian education system is gradually moving to a two-stage model (Bologna system), secondary vocational education in a college can be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. This will be an excellent substitute for higher education.
Which educational institution to choose, college or technical school, is decided only by you and your child, based on your plans for further educational routes. In any case, such a decision should be made after carefully considering all the nuances of studying at a particular institution.
How is college different from technical school? And what is the difference between secondary vocational education and technical education?
- The technical school provides specialized secondary education, i.e., the engineering and technical specialty, and the vocational school provides vocational education, i.e., a working profession. The college combined these two types of education.
- Nothing, this is the name of educational institutions only for the internal education system. The diplomas are the same.
- After graduating from ninth grade, students are faced with the choice of continuing their education at school or going to study at a secondary specialized educational institution. Now, when our education system is at the stage of transition to a two-stage model (according to the Bologna system), specialized secondary education can become almost equal to a bachelor’s degree and be an excellent alternative to the higher education that exists at the moment. But how can you decide which institution is better? What is better, more prestigious and higher: college or technical school?
In order to determine how a college differs from a technical school and what the difference is between them, you must first determine what it is.
What is a technical school?
Technical schools are secondary specialized educational institutions that implement basic programs of secondary vocational education and basic training.
At the technical school, students receive basic and more practical training in a specific specialty. You can enter a technical school after ninth or eleventh grade. Depending on the profession they study here for two to three years, the principle of learning is similar to studying at school. Technical schools are more highly specialized, focused more on training in blue-collar jobs. Upon completion of the technical school, a diploma of secondary vocational education is issued and a technician is awarded a qualification in a specific specialty.
What is college?
Colleges are secondary specialized educational institutions that implement basic programs of secondary vocational education of basic and in-depth training.
In college they receive more theoretical and in-depth study of a certain profession, and study here for three to four years. Studying in college is similar to studying in higher educational institutions: students are taught in semesters, there are lectures, seminars, and exams are taken. Secondary vocational education in college is completed in three years, and the advanced training program is completed in the fourth year. You can enter college after ninth or eleventh grade or with a diploma of primary or secondary vocational education. Colleges offer a wide variety of specializations: technical, creative or highly specialized. Upon completion, you will be issued a diploma of secondary vocational education and will be awarded the qualification of technician, senior technician in the specialty being studied.
Very often, colleges are organized at universities or enter into agreements with them; the courses in them are taught by teachers from these universities, so often final exams in colleges simultaneously become entrance exams or graduates receive benefits upon admission.
Differences between college and technical school
Thus, we can highlight the following differences between a technical school and a college:
duration of study: in college - 3-4 years, in technical school 2-3 years (after 11th grade), 3-4 (after 9th grade);
according to the style of teaching: in a technical school it is similar to a school, and in a college it is a university;
level of training: basic level in technical school, and intermediate and higher level in college;
focus of training: more practical in technical school, and theoretical in college;
What is more prestigious: college or technical school?
qualification obtained: in technical school - technician, and in college - you can get higher - senior technician;
choice of professions: in the technical school there are workers, and in the college there are both workers and creative workers.
Considering everything that was stated above, it is clear that many of the principles of these educational institutions are similar, but in the very process of training specialists in colleges and technical schools there is a significant difference. Therefore, only you and your child, based on their future plans, can decide what is better: college and further education or technical school and a working profession.
Students are faced with the choice of continuing their education at school or going to study at a secondary specialized educational institution. Now, when our education system is at the stage of transition to a two-stage model (according to the Bologna system), specialized secondary education can become almost equal to a bachelor’s degree and be an excellent alternative to the higher education that exists at the moment. But how can you decide which institution is better? What is better, more prestigious and higher: college or technical school?
In order to determine how a college differs from a technical school and what the difference is between them, you must first determine what it is.
What is a technical school?Technical schools are secondary specialized educational institutions that implement basic programs of secondary vocational education and basic training.
At the technical school, students receive basic and more practical training in a specific specialty. You can enter a technical school after ninth or eleventh grade. Depending on the profession you receive, you study here for two to three years; the principle of learning is similar to studying at school. Technical schools are more highly specialized, focused more on training in blue-collar jobs. Upon completion of the technical school, a diploma of secondary vocational education is issued and the qualification “technician” is assigned in a specific specialty.
What is college?Colleges are secondary specialized educational institutions that implement basic programs of secondary vocational education of basic and in-depth training.
In college they receive more theoretical and in-depth study of a certain profession, and study here for three to four years. Studying in college is similar to studying in higher educational institutions: students are taught in semesters, there are lectures, seminars, and exams are taken. Secondary vocational education in college is completed in three years, and the advanced training program is completed in the fourth year. You can enter college after ninth or eleventh grade or with a diploma of primary or secondary vocational education. Colleges offer a wide variety of specializations: technical, creative or highly specialized. Upon completion, a diploma of secondary vocational education is issued and the qualification “technician” or “senior technician” is assigned in the specialty being studied.
Very often, colleges are organized at universities or enter into agreements with them; the courses in them are taught by teachers from these universities, so often final exams in colleges simultaneously become entrance exams or graduates receive benefits upon admission.
Differences between college and technical school
Thus, we can highlight the following differences between a technical school and a college:
Considering everything that was stated above, it is clear that many of the principles of these educational institutions are similar, but in the very process of training specialists in colleges and technical schools there is a significant difference. Therefore, only you and your child, based on their future plans, can decide what is better: college and further education or technical school and a working profession.
