Lilja Björk Hauksdóttir is the project manager for the vocational university project at Reykjavík University. She says that vocational university studies have strong ties to the business sector and that students are sought after in the job market.
Vocational education is good preparation for studies at RU, and there are programmes available that offer exciting opportunities in the job market.
“A vocational university programme has been defined as a course of study at the university level with career-oriented final objectives,” says Lilja. “But what that really means is that people who graduate from the department are prepared for tasks in the job market and receive a legally protected professional title,” she adds. She emphasizes that students with both vocational education and a university degree are sought-after employees in the job market.
The department offers studies in architectural technology, industrial engineering, and technology, but shorter diploma programmes in information technology in construction and operations management are also available. This is intended for those with an education in metal and mechanical trades, construction trades, automotive trades, and electrical trades. Lilja says that since the vocational university project is a development project, it does not, for example, cover printing and media trades, cosmetology, or food and catering trades. However, the project could become a model for both other vocational studies and university studies.
In the podcast, Lilja Björk discusses the development of the programme, admission requirements, career opportunities, and other interesting topics for those who want to learn more about university studies after vocational training.
More information about the programme can be found here