The benefit of doing a non-vocational course..?

[Sprockette]

What does non-vocational mean when describing a short course? I mean I know in general what the term means but! Would it be worth doing? I don't have much experience so I'm thinking I'll still do this one. It's a 10 week evening course and £66 (important points for me as I work full time and am tight on cash). I only noticed the 'non-vocational' part of it tonight and wondered if it made much different for a beginner?

[HappySheep]

Non-vocational courses aren't designed specifically for a job or career, but are more for leisure or interest purposes. For example a beginner's computer course could benefit a wide range of people for a variety of reasons, but a CISCO systems administrator course is only going to help someone who is working as a systems administrator.

What is the course you've signed up for?

Judith

[Sprockette]

Well I haven't signed up for it yet as I'm waiting to hear about a job that might move me to another city before it starts but after that I can register! It's a 10 week all levels course in Curtain making and Soft Furnishings with options for roman blinds, interlined curtains, pelmets, tie backs, cushions. It's 2 hours 1 evening a week for 10 weeks. All the others I've looked at have been £500-800 which I can't afford and have lasted a year or 2. So I thought this course would be a good starting point :)

[CatkinJane]

In my experience the label non-vocational often just means that there is no qualification with it.
Courses with qualifications are usually subsidised (just about free if you are on certain benefits) so sometimes it is harder for colleges to do vocational courses because of the funding.
It doesn't mean any difference in the quality of teaching - that's still dependent on the tutor. The price looks good value and I'm sure that you will save more than that in future by being able to make all your own window dressings, never mind how popular it makes you with your friends and family :) (experience speaking here!)

Catherine

[Sprockette]

Oh that sounds good then :) It would be subsidised if you are on benefits or a student. There are so many, I want to do about 4 of them! But that sounds good for starters then, I think I'll sign up! I just wasn't sure if there were any laws against ever doing it professionally after taking a course like that.

[indri]

To me it sounds like it is probably set up for people looking at it as a hobby. I am considering whether to continue tap dancing as an evening course or do something different this year. I wanted to do flute but it's in a dodgy area of the city this year and don't fancy travelling there at all, so am contemplating other things. Your curtain making course is probably similar, but if you really get into it, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't then take it further.

[JKS]

£66 for a ten week x 2 hours per week course is a good price. In my area the course fees are appx double the figure.

Not all courses leading to a qualification are subsidised - most professional courses are fully-costed (ie the whole cost of delivering the course has to be met by enrolment fees). For example, where I work we run CIPD and CIM courses that are fully-costed. Some courses for the 16-18 age group are subsidised by the government - but contributions are often capped by the government placing a limit on the number of students that can be enrolled.

There are certain fee reductions available and it is worth having a looking at the website of the adult education centre you are planning to attend.

Good luck with the course Sprockette, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Jill