Vocational university


A vocational university, also known as university of applied sciences, polytechnic university, technological educational institute, applied technological university, or college of higher vocational studies, is an institution of higher education and sometimes research, which provides both tertiary and sometimes quaternary education and grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects.
In some countries, a vocational university more precisely grants professional degrees like professional bachelor's degree, professional master's degree and professional doctorates. The term is not officially used in many countries and an assignment to a certain type of university in a certain country's educational system is therefore difficult. The UK once had a very extensive vocational university sector with its polytechnic system dating back to the mid-19th century. Vocational universities are often regulated and funded differently from research-focused universities, and the degrees granted are not necessarily interchangeable.

Education

The education at vocational universities combines teaching of both practical skills and theoretical expertise. It can be contrasted with education in a usually broader scientific field, which may concentrate on theory and abstract conceptual knowledge. There is also the historical background that an educational institution was called a university in the Middle Ages only if a certain classical of subjects was taught. In modern times, other subjects, namely natural and engineering sciences, became more important, but institutions of tertiary education focusing on these subjects and not offering the classical canon have until recently or are still denied the prestigious denomination "university" in all countries. They had to use other, more general terms, including Fachhochschule in German, Haute École in French, Hogeschool in Dutch, Høyskole in Norwegian, Scuola universitaria professionale in Italian, etc.
There are different varieties, including vocational universities of applied sciences, vocational universities of liberal arts, etc. In recent years, many vocational universities have received full university status, such as the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria, or the Örebro University, Sweden. There are also some establishments which now have full university status but continue to use their former names, such as the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

In Europe

Austria

Finland

In Finland, vocational universities are called Ammattikorkeakoulu. They focus on vocational education and do not grant licentiate or doctorate degrees.
Notice: certain universities are called korkeakoulu because they effectively have only one faculty, e.g. Teatterikorkeakoulu, the Theatre Academy, whereas universities with several faculties are called yliopisto. The term ammattikorkeakoulu creates some confusion with korkeakoulu, because traditionally AMK's were not considered universities. A graduate of university of applied sciences is generally not eligible for doctoral studies in Finnish universities without formally completing a master's degree from a university.

Germany

The term vocational university is not used. In contrast to traditional German universities, a Fachhochschule has a more practical profile. Universities of applied sciences grant bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. Some universities of applied sciences run doctoral programs where the degree itself is awarded by a partner institution. Furthermore, Berufsakademie is a college type strongly inspired by the dual education system. A Berufsakademie is called a university of cooperative education in English and only grants bachelor's degrees. This type of institution was first created in the German state of Baden-Württemberg and now exists in Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia, but not in the other German states. In 2009, Baden-Württemberg transformed its Berufsakademie into a new type of institution, which until now only exists in that state, a "Duale Hochschule". In English, this type of institution is also called university of cooperative education, but a Duale Hochschule also offers master's degrees.

Greece

In Greece, comparable institutions to the vocational universities are the technological educational institutes. These constitute part and parcel of the higher education in Greece and offer in their own capacity bachelor's and master's degrees, and soon doctorate degrees.
On the other hand, the term college in Greece may refer, among others, to the institutions that are officially titled Centres of Post-lyceum Education. These have a solely professional, i.e. non-academic, orientation according to existing Greek law, and are so far only private. However, they run in collaboration with foreign authorities, such as universities and accreditation organisations, that may recognise them academically. They may offer professional bachelor degrees of minimum three years, as well as master's and doctorate degrees.

Netherlands

As of January 29, 2008, a Dutch hogeschool may call itself a "university of applied sciences" in English. Just like the German Fachhochschule, these HBO institutes have a more practical profile and are focused on a profession. This in opposition to the research universities, who focus on how to do research and how to solve problems/challenges on a scientific level of thinking.
Universities of applied sciences offer bachelor's degrees and master's degrees, but no doctorates.
Since 1 January 2014, even though there still is a distinction between the bachelor's and master's degrees awarded by the Dutch research universities and the Dutch universities of applied sciences, some graduates from universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands will obtain a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science or an equivalent academic title corresponding to their specific field of study to boost international recognition of these degrees.
Hogescholen in the Netherlands have been provided with the right to conduct research by the revised Higher Education and Research Act 2010.

Sweden

The main difference between universities and vocational universities is that only the former ones have the right to award doctorate degrees in all subjects they offer. Some vocational universities have been given such rights within limited areas of research.

Switzerland

In Asia

China

While the terms vocational university and professional university do not have a clear legal definition in India, the University Grants Commission, which is the body that recognises universities in India, drawing its power from the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, shares power with 15 professional councils. These councils are "responsible for recognition of courses, promotion of professional institutions and providing grants to undergraduate programmes and various awards" in the relevant areas. The bodies relevant for professional education are:

University of Applied Science and Technology

The University of Applied Science and Technology is a public university administrated by Ministry of Science, Research and Technology with various branches all over the Provinces of Iran. This university helps to increase skill level of employed personnel in various sectors of economic field and graduates of higher education and professional skills that are lacking in administrative. It is an educational system inspired and derived from 'Community College' in the United States. With more than 1500 education center in all corner of Iran. UAST confers degrees in over 100 programs at the associate, bachelor's and master's degree levels.

Technical and Vocational University

The Technical and Vocational University is one of Institutes of Higher Education under control of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. The university has more than 176 schools and colleges across the country and more than 220 thousand students is one of the largest universities in Iran.

Malaysia

There are five public vocational universities in Malaysia:
In 2009, the first University of Vocational Technology was established under the purview of the Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training. There are also nine College of Technology in Sri Lanka.