Page 23 - StudyTravel Magazine August 2019 Issue

SPECIAL REPORT STUDYTRAVEL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019

have students with big goals; to become game
developers, to set up their own IT businesses,
or to secure work in global corporations.”
While English language destinations domi-
nate the destination choice for international
students wanting to study on vocational pro-
grammes, there are also a small but growing
market for vocational programmes in non-
English language destinations too. Masahito
Tamai from Adachi Education Group www.adachi-
gakuen.jp/en/ in Japan says that jobs are a main
home, apply driver of this market. “More international students
for Tier 4 and then are interested in the vocational sector as the num-
come back to the UK ber has increased at the school of Tokyo Institute of
PHOTO: NEW
HORIZONS for a level three course… Tourism College,” he says. “Behind this trend, there
but this is not a very welcoming would be awareness of people on the needs of the
prospect. However, some partner Japanese market.”
schools send groups onto EFL pro- A large number of international students go on
grammes and then, later on students apply for to pursue a job in Japan after completion of their
level three. Having a large language school opera- studies and Masahito says, “Our group has wider
tion helps us to provide language support as well as partnerships with corporations for practical learning
create a ‘buzzy’ international atmosphere.” and fi nding jobs.”
Transition on to a university course is often seen In Slovenia, Zan Dapcevic at Academia www.
as the goal for vocational students who don’t initially academia.si says that their student markets for their
meet the requirements for higher education. However, vocational programmes are mainly from Southeast
Sanja from Bridge notes that increasingly the transi- Europe, Russia, the Ukraine and Asia. Again ‘real life
tion is the other way around. “While a conventional skills’ are identifi ed as the main attraction of courses
pathway is often seen to be from vocational courses as well as the cultural proximity of Slovenia with its
to higher education,” she relates, “in reality many student markets and the lack of availability of cours-
graduates from higher education institutions progress es in their students’ own countries. Zan says, “At
on a pathway to vocational courses in order to im- Academia, 40 per cent of guided learning hours are
prove their employment outcomes.” through work-based learning internships.”
Christine notes, “The students enrolling with us Students at Academia are fairly evenly split ac-
come with one goal. To complete their initial studies cording to their goals, according to Zan with “30 per
gaining the best career-ready advantage they can. Stu- cent wanting to progress to university at home, in
dents often talk of the recognition the vendor certifi ca- Slovenia or another country, 30 per cent staying and
tions can add to their employability. Students have the working and 30 per cent returning home to work.”
opportunity to pathway to one of our university part- Popular courses with international students include
ners, before returning to their home country to start Media Production – Graphic Design, Photography,
up their own business or career path.” She adds, “We Sound Production, Web production, Video produc-

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