How Dual Degree Program Save Time, Money and More Job Opportunities

News & Events

Tuesday — October 08, 2024

By:Study Abroad

The Dual study program offers Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with practical training. Semester courses are designed to help students in learning in-demand skills. The degree program emphasis is given to:

Academic Education	Students learn through university lectures during academic time.
Training	Gain practical experience by joining relevant companies/industries/other job work according to field of study during semester breaks.

This program structure has been proved very successful, especially in Germany, Switzerland and Australia; partially bridging the gap between the traditional university education and the needs of industry.

Importance of dual study programs for developing countries, such as Pakistan

Once you are a graduate in Pakistan in any field of study such as engineering, natural sciences or tech, you feel stuck. There is no job for you in the market when you start searching for one to gain experience. Even if you find one, requirements demand skills and you graduated with no practical experience. Some students may gain certificates by joining short unpaid internships during studies but the job market is so saturated that it cannot accommodate all the students who wish to get a job right after studies. That is why, students start looking for other options either going to abroad or starting a new degree (masters or PhD). Either way, the issue regarding unemployment and not equipped with in-demand skills remain.

How can Dual Study Programs Help?

Dual study programs are designed to teach in-demand skills as companies sponsoring you for the degree program wants you to keep working during university education. Your tuition fee during whole degree program will be paid by the company, with salary during trainee period in semester breaks and further, you will be employed there after graduation.

For instance:

Applied Computer Science | Bachelor of Science degree focused on training for in-demand IT professional skills is sponsored by DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH) at University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt and the whole degree is funded with paid trainings.
Bachelor of Engineering specifically designed for Technical Building Equipment skills is sponsored by Planungsgruppe M+P Ingenieurbüro für Gebäudetechnik GmbH at the Westphalian University.

In a similar way, there are many other universities who offer degrees to the students who joined through partner companies. International students may also apply but the language barrier still exists as fewer number of English-language programs are being offered. Learning a language will not be a big deal if it is helping you in getting an international funded degree with employment benefit and an opportunity to explore a new country.

Closing the Gap between Education and Industry	The dual study programs combine practical training with academic education. That is, most students are already job-ready at the time of their graduation.
Financial Benefit	Some programs are fully financially supported by the partner companies. Allowance during practical/vocational/career training.
Higher Employment Chances	Academically equipped along with work experience increases higher probability of employment. Sponsored companies hire them after trainings.
Acquisition of Specific Skills	The experience allows students to acquire specific skills needed by employers in making them particularly valuable to industries.

Prospects of Dual Study Programs in Pakistan in the Future

The future of the dual study programs looks quite promising in Pakistan, keeping in view the present urgency of integrating education with the needs of the market today. A number of government and private initiatives exist presently through which technical and vocational training is being promoted-conditions that would improve their chances of becoming more practical education models.

Growth Factors

● Government Initiatives: The government of Pakistan should start working in collaboration with technical and vocational education through NAVTTC. This is going to be a perfect way to start dual study programs.

● Industry Collaboration: When the industries feel a need for any type of skill, then this collaboration should be initiated with them and the universities for developing curriculums relevant to specific industries.

● International Influence: Success in such programs in Germany and Switzerland can act as an inspiration for Pakistan to adopt those models.

Countries Offering Dual Study Programs and Their Benefits

There are quite a few countries that have been successful with dual study/degree programs, and these kind of examples are pretty helpful in understanding how it can help Pakistan.

Country	Key features of Dual study Programs	Advantages for students
Germany	Integrated work-study model	Enhanced employment through practical experiences
Switzerland	Industry- aligned education	Financial support through paid internships
Australia	Flexible dual study options	Strong ties between universities and industries But for the last two years Australia is not offering dual study options

Case Studies and Local Examples

Dual study programs are not yet in vogue in Pakistan. However, there are a number of these that provide evidence of how occupation-specific training can add value to education. It has already done some very good work in providing skill-based education under the head of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by taking a lead from industries. With international donors, Pakistan can also start pilot programs that would integrate academic learning with industry's requirements.

Examples:

● The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Program (BBSYDP) is training in cooperation with companies that means the student is taught practical skills inside the course; it may be IT, engineering or business.

● Local Level Success Stories

Companies like Engro and Telenor are now teaming with higher learning institutions to provide internships and practical skills within a course of a degree.