Difference Between Polytechnic and University

Polytechnic vs University

We all know the significance and importance of universities in higher studies. There are universities in all major cities of different countries, but it is too much to expect universities to cater to every section of a population because of resources required. Though, every attempt is made by universities to provide education to students in arts, science, law, commerce, business, engineering and medical streams, it is seen that specialized institutions that are set up for imparting education in a particular stream are somewhat more successful because of centralized processes. This is precisely the reason why we see emergence of polytechnics in various parts of the world, where there is greater emphasis on imparting technical education, and the courses are designed to be more practical than the theory oriented courses in universities. There are many more differences between universities and polytechnics that will be talked about in this article.

In many countries, polytechnics are considered as engineering schools which is only partially correct. These are educational settings that are made use of in imparting practical knowledge and apart from engineering degrees; these centers are used to provide knowledge in applied sciences and industrial arts. This is of great help to students who want a degree or diploma that gets them immediate jobs after completion. There is also a difference in the duration of courses. In universities, courses typically are of longer duration, taking 2-5 years to complete, whereas polytechnics are famous for diplomas and certificates in industrial arts that get completed in 6-12 months and a students gets absorbed in the industry immediately thus, solving the problem of unemployment greatly.