Diploma and Vocational Education in Japan
The technical and vocational sector in Japan is mainly serviced by the junior colleges (tanki daigaku). Although, colleges of Technology (koto senmon gakko), specialized training colleges (senshu gakko) , vocational training centers and colleges and skill development center also offer tertiary- level training.
Junior colleges in Japan are specialized training programs of two to three years duration. The most common fields of study are education, home economics, humanities, social sciences and nursing. Nursing programs are of three years in duration. There are also a wide range of programs in the arts, agriculture and engineering.
Students who have successfully completed the program are awarded the Tanki Daigaku Shuryo Shosho ( Junior College Certification of Graduation or Associate degree).Graduates from upper secondary education who have passed the competitive entrance examinations are eligible to enroll to junior college.
Colleges of Technology in Japan, on the other hand are predominantly male. Engineering programs of 5-year duration are offered to all students who have completed nine years of school education and have passed the competitive examinations. Graduates from upper secondary schools are eligible to join the program in the fourth year. Students who have completed the five-year program are given the Technical College Graduation Diploma. Those who have completed three years of the program are awarded a certificate of completion and are then eligible to transfer to relevant university programs at the third year level.
Specialized training colleges are also available in Japan. They offer one- to three-year employment- related programs to graduates from either lower or upper secondary education. Graduates from these three- year programs at the upper secondary level are awarded the Special Training School Advanced Course Certificate of Completion (Koto-ka Sotsugyo Manjo). Those graduating from the postsecondary ?level programs are awarded a similar Certificate of Completin (Senshu Gakko Senmon-ka Shuryp Shosho).
