The Future of Education

The persistent preference of students for universities over Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in South Africa remains a critical concern, particularly in the context of youth unemployment and ongoing skills shortages. Despite TVET institutions’ strategic role in providing practical, industry-relevant skills, enrolment patterns continue to favour traditional university pathways. This raises important questions regarding the factors shaping student decision-making, including awareness, societal perceptions, institutional characteristics, and emerging digital considerations. This conceptual study examines the determinants of students’ preference for universities over TVET colleges, with a specific focus on perceptions of digital readiness. Drawing on Human Capital Theory, Social Influence Theory, and Institutional Theory, the study integrates traditional factors such as awareness, employability expectations, curriculum relevance, and institutional credibility with contemporary digital transformation perspectives. A conceptual research design is adopted, grounded in a narrative and critical review of existing literature, through which key constructs and relationships are identified and synthesised into a conceptual framework. The study’s findings indicate that a combination of limited awareness of TVET opportunities, negative societal perceptions, perceived differences in employability outcomes, and institutional factors such as infrastructure and reputation shapes student preferences. Importantly, the study reveals that perceptions of digital readiness play a significant role in shaping student choice, with universities generally perceived as more digitally advanced and better aligned with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, while TVET colleges are often viewed as less digitally equipped. The study contributes to the literature by offering a digitally grounded conceptual perspective on student preference and highlights the need for TVET institutions to strengthen their digital transformation efforts. It further provides practical insights for policymakers and educational institutions seeking to enhance the relevance, competitiveness, and attractiveness of vocational education in South Africa.