Special Report: Vocational sector

Vocational education abroad offers numerous advantages for international students, including the acquisition of practical, job-ready skills, exposure to global work environments, immersive language and cultural experiences, valuable industry connections, cost-effective training, and potential pathways to permanent residency.

With attitudes towards more traditional higher education pursuits shifting, recognition of the sector couldn’t have come at a better time, begins Alistair Morrell , International Business Development Manager at Chichester College Group in the UK. “Around the world, students are re-evaluating the traditional degree model, and the return-on-investment question is front and center. With rising tuition fees, shifting immigration policy, and a more competitive global job market, practical, career-driven education has never looked more appealing.”

Unlike many university degrees, vocational training delivers what employers value most: job-ready graduates. “As young people seek tangible pathways into meaningful careers, the appeal of hands-on learning, industry placements, and fast-track employment is growing fast,” continues Alistair. “In short: vocational training isn’t plan B. Increasingly, it’s the smart, strategic choice.”

Photo credit: ALMA – Scuola Internazionale Di Cucina Italiana

Culinary arts are a top option for vocational study, attracting students passionate about food, creativity, and global hospitality. ALMA – The School of Italian Culinary Arts , a leading school of hospitality training in Italy, enjoys a diverse and vibrant school community with students from more than 40 countries, says Adriana Miyamoto .

The Italian Culinary Program (ICP) – offered three times per year – is its most popular program, continues Adriana, but Italian Pasta and Italian Pastry, or courses with a shorter study duration, are also growing in appeal.

Short term certifications are driving the vocational market in the USA, agrees Martha Acosta-Pieters at Edmonds College , so too are micro credentials (short, focused courses). Offering career training programs ranging from one-day training sessions to two-year professional-technical associate degrees, the college works closely with local industry, says Martha, to help students gain the necessary skills and practical experience to successfully join jobs in the community.

Culinary arts, project management, visual communications and computer information systems are current areas of growth at Edmonds, but requests for cybersecurity, robotics, data science and early childhood education technical programs are also up, adds Martha.

Le Cordon Bleu has been enabling aspiring culinary professionals (including several well-known personalities!) to turn their ambitions into reality for more than a century, evolving from a small Parisian cookery school to become the global network of 35 culinary art institutes it is today.

Its diplomas in cuisine, pâtisserie and boulangerie have mass appeal, as too does the Le Grand Diplôme®, combining both the Diplôme de Cuisine and the Diplôme de Pâtisserie, and is “considered the passport to a world of career opportunities”, says Lilla Somogyi , Sales & Marketing Director for Le Cordon Bleu London and Paris.

In addition, Lilla points to new programs being developed in response to shifting dietary preferences and growing consumer demand for sustainable, health-conscious food options. This year both the Paris and London centers will offer two diplomas in Plant-based Culinary Arts, as well as a new Diploma in Pâtisserie Innovation. “In Paris, we also have our new Bachelor of Science in Culinary Design Management in partnership with the University of Dauphine launching this autumn, looking for high caliber students to join this very exciting and impactful program.”

As the food services market continues to grow globally, so too does employer demand for candidates that have relevant and practical experience and new providers are moving into the space to help educate the next generation of culinary artists. Sharena Fabrika – International School for Gastronomy & Heritage Crafts , located in Bulgaria’s Balkan Mountains, will welcome its first cohort of students next year, confirms Elitsa Dimitrova, Business Development Expert. The school is the first fully-fledged affiliate institution of world-renowned gastronomy school Ferrandi Paris, and will offer, “Professional courses, master classes and recreational programs led by an international team of world-experienced chefs,” explains Elitsa, with a focus on French and Balkan cuisine, plus instruction in pastry arts and baking.

Meanwhile, the heritage craft side of the business offers a reprieve from the digital age, opening minds to a different culture, traditions and skills such as woodcraft, ceramics, traditional textiles and icon painting, says Elitsa.

A recent report by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) highlights a widening skills gap in the UK’s creative arts sector. The report points to a growing mismatch between available skills and industry needs, with experts forecasting rapid growth over the next decade and a corresponding rise in demand for relevant creative expertise.

Photo credit: Le Cordon Bleu

“If there is one area that is really seeing growth, it would be our creative arts programs,” acknowledges Alistair, highlighting its recently launched UAL-awarded International Foundation in Art & Design at its Brighton MET campus. “The results speak for themselves: 93 per cent of graduates who apply to university progress to the University of the Arts London (UAL) – ranked second in the world for Art & Design, behind only the Royal College of Art (QS 2024).”

As a soft-skill, creativity is highly sought after by employers the world over and Whitecliffe, a private tertiary institution based in New Zealand, offers a diverse portfolio of creatively focused programming, including Information Technology, Creative Arts, Fashion and Sustainability, and Fine Arts.

With campuses in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, and enrolling approximately 200-300 international students annually, CEO Dr Fay Amaral, notes their programs are industry-aligned and designed to equip students with the skills needed for success in a global marketplace. Its Bachelor of Applied Information Technology; Master of Information Technology; Diploma in Information Technology and Technical Support and Diploma in Web Development and Design are its most popular vocational programs for international students.

Photo credit: Chichester College Group

With aging populations around the world, another vocation with no shortage of work opportunities is healthcare and human services. At North Island College in Canada, Manager of International Enrollment & Recruitment, Junko Leclair , notes there’s been a growing appetite for programs geared towards frontline care provision. A special two-year international cohort, enabling students to earn two certificates: a Health Care Assistance Certificate (eight months) and a Community Mental Health Worker Certificate (eight months), is currently very popular, she says.

She continues, “This year we have launched an international cohort of Human Services Diploma program. The program is designed to train students to become support workers in K-12 school system and out in the community settings. Graduates will play crucial roles in creating inclusive living and learning environments, which is something we strive for at NIC.”

Sector challenges

International recruitment in the vocational sector has faced a range of operational challenges recently. “A resurgence of nationalist politics has tightened visa rules and immigration controls, disrupting student mobility and complicating recruitment pipelines,” offers Alistair. “Our challenge is to make international students feel welcome,” he adds.

Recent changes to Post Graduation Work Permit eligibility in Canada, has seen programs once popular among international students have lower enrolments this year. Although North Island College recorded the highest number of international students in its history in the January 2025 first term, Junko anticipates a slow decrease in the following terms due to the impact of the recent IRCC policy changes.

Colleges, like NIC, have historically provided access to education for international students who may not have the financial means to pursue four-year university degrees, and many believe policy changes, like the above, will be a barrier to growth. “Prospective students are also losing interest in particular subject areas like business and tourism in Canada with recent immigration changes, which is demonstrated by the lower total usage of Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letters across Canada,” says Junko.

UK government recently announced plans to reduce the post-study work right period from 24 to 18 months, reducing the time employees have to become productive members of the workforce.

Visa limitations pose ongoing challenges for vocational providers, particularly regarding what international students are permitted to do after completing their studies. “I was recently speaking to one of our Alumni who told me she would have loved to have stayed in the UK after she graduated, but the tight visa restrictions post study meant she was unable to do so. This is a great shame for the industry: we train students to be the best in their field and then they have to move on,” says Lilla.

As well as changing immigration policies, which can impact students’ planning and decision-making, Fay cites increased global competition from other study destinations; the rising cost of living, which can deter students from lower-income backgrounds, and perception gaps around private providers versus public institutions, despite the quality and relevance of offerings.