VET News

Staying Connected in VET – Volume 12 Released Today!

In this edition of Staying Connected in VET, read about various happenings, issues and ideas specifically selected and themed according to Velg Training’s mission to Educate, Inspire and Empower the VET community.

This week, read about ‘Why the Stigma Surrounding VET Needs to Stop’, from YouthSense (powered by Year13)

Through our research  we  have  developed  a  deep  connection  with  youth  in  Australia.  We’ve grown to  understand  their  worries  and  aspirations  during  their  time  at  school  and  have  assisted  them  in  making  positive  decisions  about  their  future.  One concern that  we  frequently  encounter  is  the  confusion  surrounding  post-school  options  and  the  inadequacy  of  certain  pathways  in  fulfilling  the  needs  of  young  people.  

Earlier  this  year,  we  released  our  second  research  paper  After  The  ATAR  II:  Understanding  How  Gen  Z  Make  Decisions  About  Their  Future.  We  received  over  4,000  responses  from  Aussies  regarding  their  transition  out  of  school  and  their  post-school  journey.  Our  data  reveals  that  52%  of  youth  believe  they  have  either  a  bad  (29%)  or  no  (23%)  understanding  of  VET.  Comparatively,  only  15%  of  youth  say  they  have  a  bad  (12%)  or  no  (3%)  understanding  of  university.  Furthermore,  only  16%  of  youth  believe  their  parents  have  a  well-rounded  understanding  of  VET,  whereas  66%  of  youth  believe  their  parents  have  a  well-rounded  understanding  of  university.

This  lack  of  understanding  of  VET  serves  to  further  reinforce  the  stigma  surrounding  this  pathway.  In  our  surveys  we  have  heard  from  many  young  students  that  have  been  made  to  feel  shame  or  embarrassment  when  forgoing  the  traditional  university  route.  One  student  going  down  the  VET  pathway  described  his  experience  of  being  judged  by  friends  from  his  private  school,  even  though  his  apprenticeship  was  a  source  of  pride  for  him.  This  respondent  revealed  that  even  parents  from  the  school  openly  displayed  their  disapproval  of  his  choices  to  him  and  his  parents.  This  negative  stigma  is  unfounded.  The  reality  is,  only  71.8%  of  university  graduates  find  full-time  work  within  four  months  of  graduating.  Meanwhile,  this  figure  grows  by  nearly  6%  for  VET  graduates,  and  for  apprentices  and  trainees  the  figure  sits  at  81.2%.  For  graduates  in  a  trade  occupation  course,  the  figure  is  92.2%.  

Our  research  has  also  revealed  that  studying  a  VET  course  elicits  contrary  emotions  compared  to  how  students  feel  about  high  school.  Whereas  71%  of  high  school  students feel  ‘stressed’  and  66%  feel  ‘anxious’,  this  figure  drops  to  30%  and  21%,  respectively,  for  VET  students.  Just  30%  of  high  school  students  feel  ‘excited’  about  school,  compared  to  57%  of  VET  students.  VET  pathways  provide  students  an  opportunity  to  pursue  their  talents,  interests  and  passions  that  may  not  have  been  fostered  in  their  high  school  environment.  As  a  result,  VET  students  are  happier  and  more  secure  in  their  future.    

Clearly,  there  is  a  lack  of  understanding  amongst  the  majority  of  young  students  regarding  their  post-school  options.  The  good  news  is  that  young  people  have  a  desire  to  become  more  informed  and  43%  of  youth  say  their  most  trustworthy  career  advice  comes  from  web  searches.  This  means  that  there’s  a  space  for  educators  and  industry  leaders  to  reach  students  and  promote  the  opportunities  that  VET  offers,  ultimately  empowering  youth  to  find  their  own  future.

The above is only one article from the latest eZine.  See the full edition here.

Date posted Nov 22, 2018