What distinctions are there between vocational (career and technical) education and academic learning in college? In this essay, we compare broad academic and vocational program goals, embodied skills, tasks, and jobs, with a focus primarily on community college students. There is considerable overlap between the two types of education, so a separation of tracks presents a false dichotomy. In addition, vocational certificates, which often have little academic content, have attracted attention lately as a path to good jobs. New evidence indicates that degrees offer more substantial advantages than certificates in the labor market. We argue for an alternative framework for thinking about the optimal accumulation of skills in college. Rejecting the traditional distinction between vocational education and academic learning, we posit that educational paths are best understood as accumulations of general education followed by terminal work-related education. We label this the Gen-Tech framework and consider its explanatory power and implications for colleges and students.

中文翻译：

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学术学习与职业技能之间的错误二分法

大学的职业（职业和技术）教育与学术学习之间有什么区别？在本文中，我们比较了广泛的学术和职业计划目标，具体技能，任务和工作，重点是社区大学生。两种类型的教育之间存在相当大的重叠，因此，分道扬present是一种错误的二分法。此外，通常没有什么学术内容的职业证书作为一种良好的职业途径最近引起了人们的关注。新的证据表明，学位在劳动力市场上比证书提供了更多的优势。我们主张为大学最佳技能积累提供思考的替代框架。拒绝职业教育与学术学习之间的传统区别，我们认为教育路径最好理解为通识教育的积累，然后是与终端工作相关的教育。我们将其标记为“ Gen-Tech”框架，并考虑其对大学和学生的解释力和含义。