Many students ignore the importance of post-secondary education after completing high school. It is important to keep in mind that learning is a lifelong process that allows you to develop intellectually and gives you an edge to build successful careers.
Post-secondary education opens up a wider range of career opportunities. Many professions require specific degrees or certifications that can only be obtained through post-secondary institutions.
In this article, we will learn what is post-secondary education and how it contributes to individual development.
What is Post Secondary Education?
Post-secondary education simply means the level of education attained by a student after completing high school. It includes a wide range of educational opportunities that you can choose from by completing three or four years of college.
In a few countries, post-secondary education is also known as tertiary education. This type of education usually happens when a student turns 18. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees are prime examples of diverse educational pathways that allow students to specialize in their areas of interest, gain practical skills, and prepare for their desired careers.
The main concern is that many students avoid pursuing post-secondary education and don’t take this seriously. They aren’t aware of the significance of higher studies in their lives. The question remains whether pursuing tertiary education is important and beneficial to individual development.
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Does Post-Secondary Education Contribute to Holistic Development?
Post-secondary education significantly contributes to holistic development by nurturing intellectual, social, emotional, and professional growth. Individuals with post-secondary education typically earn higher salaries and are more stable compared to those with a high school diploma. Advanced degrees often lead to better-paying jobs and more career opportunities.
Higher education fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. These skills are valuable in both personal and professional life. Additionally, top colleges provide exposure to diverse ideas, cultures, and people, which broadens one’s worldview and enhances personal growth.
Not only in terms of career, but higher education awakens a sense of responsibility as a citizen of the country. It promotes informed and engaged citizenship, as it is quite noticeable that educated individuals are more likely to participate in civic activities and contribute positively to their communities.
So that’s how it contributes to development and shapes individuals into well-rounded, informed, and active members of society. It is more diverse and provides students with a variety of options, including community college, a four-year college program, and a doctorate. Let’s explore those options in the next section.
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Types of Post-Secondary Education
Here’s an overview of the various types of post-secondary education:
2 or 4 Years College
These institutions offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs. They provide a more comprehensive and in-depth education in a wide range of academic disciplines.
Additionally, two-year institutions can have smaller class sizes since they enroll fewer students than four-year institutions. For individuals who choose to continue their education, two-year and four-year university courses are excellent choices.
Adult Education
This is suitable for those who are currently in a job and want to continue their education. It offers flexible options such as evening classes, online courses, and part-time programs. Adult education provides an opportunity to enhance skills, gain new knowledge, and advance in one’s career without having to sacrifice current employment.
Vocational College
Vocational-technical institutions and programs provide instruction and training tailored to certain job specializations. Examples of such colleges are food and beverage management, hair and beauty fashion design, electricians, etc. These programs are typically shorter and provide hands-on experience.
There are several types of vocational colleges such as trade, technical, and life skill. The terminology might be different but the concept is similar and is grouped under it.
- Trade School: This type of school prepares individuals to pursue careers in certain fields.
- Technical School: Technical school is more of a white collar that requires a technical skillset such as website development, UI/UX designer, CSS, etc.
- Life Skill Programs: These programs are related to household skills such as plumbing, carpentry, electrician, etc.
So these were some fundamental types of post-secondary education. Sometimes people do get confused between primary, secondary, and tertiary education due to differences in terminologies across the globe. Let’s clarify and distinguish between those terms and understand what purpose they serve.
Difference Between Primary, Secondary, and Post-Secondary Education
The distinction between primary, secondary, and post-secondary education is essential, as they cater to different needs and satisfy different requirements.
Primary | Secondary | Post-Secondary |
---|
Includes grades 1 through 5 or 6, depending on the country. | Secondary education typically includes grades 6 or 7 through 12. | It includes universities, colleges, vocational schools, and other higher education institutions. |
Focuses on basic literacy and numeracy. | Provide more advanced and specialized knowledge in various subjects. | Pursued to provide specialized knowledge and skills in a particular field of study |
Starts around the age of 5 or 6. | Starts around age 11 or 12 and ends around age 18. | Starts around when students hit the age of 18. |
Preparation for secondary education. | Qualification to pursue post-secondary education or enter the workforce in a basic role. | Helps in enhancing career prospects and opportunities for higher earnings. |
By this detailed comparison, you must have understood various phases of education and what kind of needs it fulfills. Furthermore, let’s discuss some benefits of pursuing post-secondary education.
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Benefits of Pursuing Post-Secondary Education
When students complete high school and get exposed to the real world, at first it’s not easy for them to adapt to such a dynamic world. Colleges and universities allow them to experience the essence of the world and choose their career from the pool of opportunities.
This allows students to connect with others who share their interests, and teachers can guide them along the way. Aside from this, there are several advantages:
- Collaborative Learning: Many universities pay a lot of importance to group assignments, projects, and quiz sessions that help students foster team spirit and make them good teammates. Additionally, collaborative learning helps students to understand concepts at a much faster rate and clear all doubts with the help of peers.
- Wider Perspective: When you enroll yourself into world-class colleges and universities, you surround yourself with people with positive and career-oriented mindsets. This allows you to absorb more knowledge, get a clear vision of your goals, and have a positive mindset.
- Personal Development: The foundation of postsecondary education is more than just getting entry-level jobs and a good salary. It also develops other skill sets such as communication skills, writing skills, and personality as well.
- Internship Programs: The biggest aid that you leverage from colleges is to work with leading brands with the help of internship programs. This will be a great exposure for students and allow them to get an idea of how things are operated and managed professionally.
- Blended Learning Model: In some cases, if a student is unable to enroll in his desired college due to geographical constraints, he does not have to worry anymore. Most of the world-class institutes offer a blended learning model. This helps students to attend pre-recorded lectures and learn at their own pace in the comfort of their homes.
- Direct Impact on the Economy: Studies have indicated that a nation’s level of education is correlated with several factors that affect economic growth. Factors such as mortality rate, healthcare facilities, cleanliness, and overall quality of life improve significantly with higher educational attainment.
These benefits make higher education a valuable asset for students because it allows them to pave their way to their ultimate goal.
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Alternatives to Post-Secondary Education
If you cannot afford to study in colleges and universities, it’s better to enroll in courses that are high-paying and demanding in the future. To get an intermediate understanding of such courses, check out our article on free Udemy courses, which will give you the basics of some of the best courses.
Apart from that, you can work as an apprentice under someone who is a highly skilled professional worker, such as a perfume developer, gemologist, designer, auto mechanic, etc. These skills will surely pay you handsomely if you become a master of it.
Volunteering and starting your own business would also be a great way to start earning just after completing high school. However, the personality and intellectual growth that we often see among graduates and master’s degree holders cannot be attained through such alternatives.
Additionally, numerous countries provide large scholarships to students wishing to continue their education after high school. This helps them financially, making higher education more accessible and reducing the burden of tuition fees and related expenses.
If your only reason for skipping post-secondary education is a lack of funds, we would advise you to instead work as a part-timer, gather some funds, and follow your dream.
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Final Verdict
We have covered the concept of what post-secondary education means and why it plays a significant role in everyone’s life. You have a variety of options in higher education, including four years of college or two years of diploma.
The amount of exposure that students get from universities is unparalleled, many colleges partner with several companies that help students get direct placement, and they also emphasize developing CTE to make them a fortified workforce.
We hope that now you understand the significance of post secondary education. Please share this article with your friends in need.
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FAQs
Ans: Yes, any education completed after high school is considered postsecondary education.
Ans: Yes, MBBS is a 4 years bachelor’s program for medical aspirants and is done after completing high school.
Ans: It depends on the type of degree and university you are opting for. Graduation from public colleges is much cheaper compared to private colleges.
Ans: Fashion design, electricians, hospitality, nursing, hair and beauty, auto mechanics, and graphic design are some examples of vocational schools.
Sources:
Post-Secondary Education Success –
Harvard