Business and management - VET study in business and management
VET study in business and management
Business and management graduates from the VET sector are likely to have a similar range of career options as their counterparts from the higher education sector. The main difference is that careers of VET graduates will be at a paraprofessional level. In other words, VET graduates will work in roles which support the various types of business professionals.
VET graduates will often have developed general business skills that apply in all types of organisations, such as:
- Accounts
- Business administration
- Customer relations
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Sales
- Frontline management
- Occupational health and safety
- Small business management.
However, many will have skills related to specific industries and fields, including:
- Legal practice
- Local government
- Property
- Retail
- Transport and distribution.
Career prospects and job responsibilities are likely to improve the higher your qualification.
Courses and specialisations
Although there are some courses in the VET sector that have a general ‘business’ title, most courses are specifically focused on one set of business skills or one industry. Certificate I-IV, diploma and advanced diploma courses are available covering the areas listed above.
Which course is for you?
Your decision will depend heavily on your interests and where you want your career to go. Keep in mind that the industry-specific courses may lock you into work in one type of industry or organisation.
Getting in
There may be no formal entry requirements for many certificate courses. However, you can expect some for advanced diploma courses. Some courses might also involve prerequisites; for example maths and English might be required for accounts and marketing, respectively.
Where to study
Business courses are widely available at TAFE institutes and registered training organisations around the country. A good deal of the course content in this field is derived from national training packages, which means that relevant courses will be much the same wherever you do them.
Pathways
In some instances courses in this field may provide articulation pathways to higher levels of study both within the VET sector and the university sector. Credit and recognition of prior learning may be given for some of the lower level VET courses (such as certificate II, III or IV) towards diploma courses in the same or related subject areas.
Similarly, students who complete diploma or advanced diploma courses may be eligible for entry into degree courses in business and management. In such instances, recognition of prior learning may result in exemption from one to two years of the bachelor course.
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