For many South African families, education is one of the most significant investments they will ever make. Naturally, parents want to understand the return on that investment.
Traditionally, success has often been associated with university pathways. However, global workforce trends suggest that vocational and occupational qualifications are increasingly playing a vital role in addressing skills shortages while providing direct routes into employment.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights growing demand for technical, operational and skilled occupations across numerous sectors. Simultaneously, employers continue to report shortages of candidates with practical competencies and workplace experience.
Phillip Harmse, Business Development Executive at UXi Artisan Development, believes the conversation around educational value is evolving.
“Parents are looking beyond prestige and asking practical questions. They want to know whether their child will gain relevant skills, access employment opportunities and develop the ability to build a sustainable future.”
Across the UXi group, programmes focus on combining knowledge, practical training and workplace exposure to support long-term career development. This approach reflects broader international trends that place increasing emphasis on applied learning and employability outcomes.
Jarine Mostert, Campus Manager at François Ferreira Academy, notes that success should be measured over a career rather than immediately after graduation.
“A qualification is not simply an endpoint. It should create opportunities for progression, specialisation, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.”
Research from UNESCO Lifelong Learning Framework and the International Labour Organisation suggests that vocational education can provide effective pathways into employment, particularly when programmes maintain strong connections with industry and workplace learning.
The bottom line seems to be that the true return on educational investment extends beyond the qualification itself. It includes employability, earning potential, career mobility, personal growth and the ability to contribute meaningfully to society and the economy.