Canadian society needs to ditch the notion that college is less impressive than university.
The reverse is true.
The hands-on learning styles most colleges offer give students real-life experiences that they can directly implement into jobs once they graduate.
University education almost always consists of a theory-based approach that teaches students through a literary lens, which puts certain programs at a disadvantage.
Programs in creative, business, teaching, research or vocational fields are much better with practical experience. Even for essential university degrees in medicine or engineering, applicable knowledge is essential to producing fully-fledged doctors and engineers.
Perhaps the societal biases relate to the typically cheaper college tuition fees, comparing lower-income families with less educated backgrounds.
Privilege seems to always be equated to attending esteemed universities and shelling out thousands of dollars, maybe tens of thousands depending on the program.
How is this fair?
Higher Education Strategy Associates conducted a study in 2019 highlighting differences in enrolment rate, which showed Canadian colleges had less than half the amount of full-time students as universities.
Colleges are more accessible and more versatile, so how have we let ourselves frame universities to be so much better that there is such a drastic difference?
Students have more variety when choosing college programs, especially in the trades, where they can immediately become employable and find relevant careers right after graduating.
Humber College, for example, is in the process of creating an Applied Master’s program in Advanced Manufacturing to suit the needs of the future economy.
Having specific and relevant experience should set someone ahead of knowing the theoretical approach to a topic.
Unfortunately, these applicants are not often set ahead.
Many entry-level jobs look for a bachelor’s degree or some level of university schooling in applications before being considered.
The combination of social pressures and employment possibilities is creating a false narrative surrounding education types.
This is especially true for high school graduates making application choices who are already easily influenced due to their age.
When students do their research they likely will see these biases on their screen.
Toronto’s Robertson College released a study comparing the two types of education, emphasizing how college is primarily for trades, but that is simply not true.
The narrative surrounding post-secondary education needs to be changed, and this should start in high schools. Students should not feel they must choose an institution based on reputation but instead decide what program and learning style best suits them.
Once the stigma is eliminated at the root, employers need to adjust hiring requirements to account for college students who arguably may be more qualified without the need for a bachelor’s degree.
Every education path should be unique to student needs. Colleges actively prepare students for the real world instead of learning theory through a textbook.
This should be celebrated and encouraged.