After primary and secondary education, the third level of education is termed tertiary. Internationally, tertiary education means education we acquire at universities, trade schools and colleges including polytechnics. While the term higher education refers to university education (undergraduate and postgraduate [1]), training in other institutions of tertiary education is termed vocational training. Tertiary education leads to the attainment of professional certificates, diplomas and/or academic degrees.
With the completion of university studies (graduate or postgraduate), one may become a professional already, depending on the field of studies. However, many academic degrees do not qualify graduates to any profession. After studies, they still need a further qualification into a profession.
On leaving an institution of vocational training, one is entitled to a certificate that is in itself a professional qualification. With it, one can search for a job in a specific field.
Although it may be cool studying at the university, because many would like to be called university students, each and every youth in Cameroon should evaluate their individual situation to know, what benefits and contribution towards a sustainable profession, studying at the university will bring to them. Many studied and even more keep studying subjects that have got many jobless graduates along the street in towns and villages all over the country. Before venturing into such a course, review your situation, think of alternatives and make a conscious decision that will lead you to success in your dream profession.
Before venturing into studying, an alternative could be to first of all do vocational training in a field of interest. Thereafter, you have the opportunity, with your professional certificate, to work and generate an income for yourself. This way, you can also save some money in order to be able to take care of costs of studying, if you wish to do so later.
Many young people think however, that they will grow too old and miss the chance of studying, if they go this way. Acquiring the first professional qualification will however give you security and guarantee and you can always get back to this profession, if your dream of studying and attaining a higher certificate does not work.
For example: If you intend to become a university teacher (Professor), you could as well, after Advanced Level, do Teacher training. As a trained teacher, you have the insight in what will expect you later on as a professor and surely are going to make a better professor than those who studied and never had the foundational teacher training with all the methods that it entails.
[1] Undergraduate: University studies until attainment of the first degree (Bachelor’s Degree), Postgraduate: University studies after attainment of the first degree (Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree etc)