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Tertiary education

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Tertiary education is the stage of learning that follows high school.

20160512 GCC Graduation (26887523562)
20160512 GCC Graduation (26887523562)

People often call this higher education or post-secondary education. It includes many different types of places to study. You might attend a large university or a smaller college. Some students go to vocational schools to learn specific jobs.

Auto mechanics class at Chawama Youth Resource Centre (5348624275)
Auto mechanics class at Chawama Youth Resource Centre (5348624275)

These schools might teach things like automotive repair. After finishing your studies, you often receive a certificate, a diploma, or an academic degree.

Mathematics lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology
Mathematics lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology

There are different ways to organize these levels of study. The World Bank says tertiary education includes universities, colleges, and vocational schools. Higher education usually means undergraduate or postgraduate studies. In the United Kingdom, vocational learning is often called further education. In the United States, it is sometimes called continuing education. The International Standard Classification of Education uses levels to group these studies. Level 4 covers nondegree education, while levels 6, 7, and 8 cover higher studies. These levels help experts track how much people are learning around the world.

Learning in specialized fields has a very long history.

Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna
Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna

Long ago, Dynastic Egypt had houses of life for studying law and medicine. In Greece, schools like Plato's Academy taught math and philosophy. The city of Taxila in South Asia also attracted many students. In China, the Han dynasty had a Grand School to train officials. The Byzantine emperor Theodosius II started a school in 425 CE to train public servants. In the 12th century, independent groups of teachers and students formed in Western Europe. These groups became known as Universitas Studiorum.

Many famous schools have been around for a very long time. The University of al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco is the oldest existing institution still running.

ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli
ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli

The University of Bologna in Italy was founded in 1088. It is the oldest university in continuous operation. It was also the first to award degrees. Another very old school is the University of Naples Federico II. It was established in 1224 by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. These ancient places helped set the model for how schools work today.

Today, tertiary education is more important than ever for workers.

Percentage of 25-29-year-olds who have completed at least four years of tertiary education, by wealth, selected countries, 2008-2014
Percentage of 25-29-year-olds who have completed at least four years of tertiary education, by wealth, selected countries, 2008-2014

More people are enrolling in these schools than in the past. In the year 2000, the global enrollment ratio was 19 percent. By 2017, it had grown to 38 percent. This helps people find better jobs and earn higher wages. It also helps countries grow their economies. Experts believe that learning these skills is vital for the future of work.

Columbia University, NYC (June 2014) - 09
Columbia University, NYC (June 2014) - 09
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File:Mathematics lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology.jpg
Mathematics lecture at the Helsinki...
File:Auto mechanics class at Chawama Youth Resource Centre (5348624275).jpg
Auto mechanics class at Chawama Youth...
File:20160512_GCC_Graduation_(26887523562).jpg
20160512_GCC_Graduation_(26887523562).jpg
File:Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna.jpg
Archiginnasio ora blu Bologna.jpg
File:ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli.jpg
ChiostroPietroMartireNapoli.jpg
File:Percentage of 25-29-year-olds who have completed at least four years of tertiary education, by wealth, selected countries, 2008-2014.svg
Percentage of 25-29-year-olds who have...
File:Columbia University, NYC (June 2014) - 09.JPG
Columbia University, NYC (June 2014) - 09.JPG
File:Deakin University Burwood Campus.jpg
Deakin University Burwood Campus.jpg
File:Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza -Rome.jpg
Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza -Rome.jpg
File:POLIMI Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32 - on the right the building 3.jpg
POLIMI Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32 - on...
File:Chiostro Unicatt.jpg
Chiostro Unicatt.jpg
File:Educationincanada-eng.png
Educationincanada-eng.png

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