Sri Lanka can proudly lay claim to being a country with one of the highest literacy rates in the world, with its figures consistently exceeding 90%. As such, it is no surprise to see the level of academic proficiency among secondary and tertiary levels of learning is equally high. Every year, thousands of academically qualified individuals enter the job market. And every year, the competition to land a job in the already saturated job market becomes challenging. How does a single applicant stand out when they all have great academic credentials?

The answer is in one’s ability to demonstrate his/her skills to perform a job. BTEC Qualifications assess students not only through responses to a question paper but also practical coursework that helps deliver the outcomes of learning a module.

BTEC Higher National programme (BTEC HNs) by Pearson gives the learner a vocational education alongside theoretical understanding and therefore, is well geared to prepare an individual for the world of careers.

Pearson, as a world-renowned educational organization, is committed to offering holistic education that makes an individual skill-ready for work or further education, and BTEC HNs are no different.

We spoke to Premila Paulraj, Pearson’s Regional Director for Asia, about BTEC HNs and their capacity for guiding individuals to a world of opportunities.

Here’s what she shared: how BTEC HNs give you the skills and experience that make you stand out from a crowd of academically qualified individuals.

Q: Why should someone choose BTEC Higher Nationals?

A: BTEC Higher National programme enables students to gain high-quality, career-focused qualifications grounded in practical work. BTEC HNs groom the learners to acquire knowledge and apply them, develop skills and sharpen them to reach employment standards as well as to qualify for further education.

I should share that BTEC HNs, or levels 4 and 5, offer specialized learning across 40+ subjects. And they are equivalent to the first and second years of a UK bachelor's degree. This qualification pairs well with the BTEC Nationals programme we offer, which is equivalent to Sri Lanka’s Advanced Level qualification.

Q: How does this qualification guide a student towards global opportunities?

A: BTEC HNs are work-ready qualifications. The programmes are accredited to the Ofqual Regulated Qualifications Framework (RFQ) and are mapped against the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and Subject Sector Benchmarks in the UK. They also meet the standards of each relevant professional body and are designed to incorporate Pearson World Class Qualification principles.

As they are designed with international working standards in mind, any student in any corner of the world can lay the groundwork for a global career by following the BTEC HNs.

Q: Does Pearson offer Student Transfer Programmes to support learners?

A: Of course, we do. As BTEC HNs are equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree in the UK, this allows students to transfer to the UK for their third year, depending on the modules covered in the HNs. We have deviced the transfer programmes in such a way as to assist the students who start learning locally to move overseas seamlessly.

Other countries outside the UK that accept such transfers are Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Countries such as Malaysia, Dubai and any other country with UK-based universities also welcome BTEC HN students.

Q: Can you tell us more about the courses and fees?

A: We believe that Pearson gives the most value to one’s investment. Pearson offers a range of streams of study with BTEC HNs for students to choose from. These include business, computing, digital technologies, cloud computing, applied sciences, healthcare, engineering, quantity surveying, hospitality, travel and tourism, art and design, creative media, early childhood education and care, teacher training, music, and more.

The course fees are transparent and reasonable. Flexible payment plans are often available, giving parents and students the option for quality education at comfortable rates.

Q: What do BTEC HNs offer an individual to kickstart their career?

A: Well, BTEC HNs support students in acquiring knowledge and practical skills in their course of study. This includes preparing students with capabilities that meet employers’ expectations, allowing BTEC HN holders to stand out from their peers. With BTEC HNs, an individual will have gained credentials precisely fitting the desired workplace.

To ensure that the qualification covers all aspects within each respective industry, each BTEC HN is created in consultation with industry experts.

Q: Can you speak about the support from Pearson for the learners?  

A: BTEC HNs offer students flexibility in how they learn. Students may learn in physical classes as well as online learning sessions. Pearson has adopted innovative learning and teaching methods in keeping with the times, and students that opt for BTEC HN benefit from the same.

Students can access HN Online, BTEC’s online learning platform that hosts interactive learning activities and tests they can access at their convenience. Students also have access to HN Global, a global resource portal with educational material that supports both students and teachers.

Q: Can you speak of the impact of BTEC HNs?

A: At present, over 5000 Pearson-approved BTEC HN centres based in 90+ countries are ready to give students the guidance they need. Each year, these centres see over 50,000 BTEC HN registered learners.

There are over 12,000 moderators and examiners and over 2000 quality assurance experts and trainers worldwide. Each of them works toward providing globally recognized, work-ready qualifications for students.

For students in Sri Lanka, Pearson serves as a stepping stone to higher education, assisting them in taking the first step toward realizing their dreams. BTEC is well-known for providing skilled professional education at a reasonable cost. BTEC HNs, as vocational education delivered at the right time, guide you towards the path you wish to take, be it starting a career or choosing further education.

If you have goals and dreams for a fruitful education and a successful career, you have already taken the first step. What you need for the next step is guidance, and Pearson BTEC is well-geared to provide that.