Here’s some inspiration from Mark Gibson, Director at the Yorkshire & Humber Institute of Technology.
While the time for New Year’s Resolutions has been and gone, it’s not too late to set yourself some long-term goals for 2025. Whether it’s to visit that place on your bucket list, secure a promotion at work or have a better work/life balance, there are lots of ways to grow and develop this year.
One way you could do this is by earning a new qualification, giving you greater progression opportunities in your current job or perhaps putting you in a good position for a new job in a different industry.
However, unless you’re a school or college leaver and continuing in education is an obvious next step, it can be difficult to know how to get back into education and where to start.
You might be thinking – what qualifications are even available to me? What do they involve? And how will I balance studying with my other commitments?
At the Yorkshire & Humber Institute of Technology, we can help with this – read on to find out how.
Providing a strong STEM skills foundation
The Yorkshire & Humber Institute of Technology is a partnership between nine education institutions across the region and seven of these offer Institute of Technology courses.
Our courses focus on STEM sectors that are relevant to the region and where the demand for skills currently outweighs the supply of people with these skills. Sectors include agriculture, digital, engineering, construction, horticulture and animal care.
Our education partners offer a variety of qualifications across these sectors, ranging from level 3 to level 6 – so no matter what stage of life you’re at, there’s something for everyone.
Knowing what’s out there
If you’re right at the start of your education journey, then T Levels might be a suitable option for you. A T Level is a level 3 qualification equivalent to three A Levels and courses combine theory and practical learning – with 80% of the time in a learning environment and the other 20% in an industry placement. They give students valuable, real-life experience and usually take two years to complete.
Alternatively, if you’re slightly further on in your education journey, a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) might work for you. HNCs and HNDs are work-related higher education qualifications where students learn skills related to a specific industry that can be used in a particular job – so it’s perfect for those wanting to head straight into work.
For those wanting to earn a degree-level qualification, but don’t feel ready to do a full degree, Foundation Degrees (FDs) are a great way to start. FDs focus on developing in-demand technical skills for a particular job or profession and usually take two years to complete full-time. Then, if you decide you’d like to continue on to do a full degree, you can complete an extra year on top.
Alternatively, you can choose to complete a full Bachelor’s degree right from the start. These typically take three years to complete and students specialise in one subject for the duration – although joint honours degrees are an option. Our education partners offer both Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees, depending on which subject area you’re interested in.
Or, if you want to make sure you can earn money whilst you’re learning, apprenticeships are a great option. Apprenticeships range from level 2 to level 6 and involve students learning through practical, hands-on techniques at the same time as earning a living. As well as gaining practical experience, apprentices also spend at least 20% of their time learning in a classroom, laboratory or workshop.
Balancing studies with work and home life
Deciding to go back into education is a big decision and we understand the need for students to be able to balance their studies with their work and home lives.
To ensure every student’s needs are being met, our education providers offer flexible provision with full-time and part-time options, as well as online learning. This helps to improve access and ensure our students can still focus on their other commitments, whether this is shift work, employment or caring for family members.
Some qualifications also offer individual units in isolation and this is great for people who don’t require the full qualification, but specific content or units meet their needs.
So no matter what stage of life you’re at and what other commitments you have, it’s possible to earn a new STEM qualification and develop your skills in 2025. Visit www.yhiot.ac.uk to find out more about our courses and to contact our education providers.