Habia defend the diploma in hair and beauty studies

Industry standards-setting body habia have become embroiled in a debate with the Daily Mail newspaper over the new Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies, which launches this autumn. 'The hair and beauty diploma - worth 3 1/2 A levels - that doesn't actually involve cutting any hair' says that opponents to the diploma feel it is "too thin on practical skills and heavy on theory". It adds that 'pupils taking the diploma will learn about the history of hairdressing in society, its science and how celebrity hairstyles, such as Kate Moss's, influence the industry' and raises question marks over the fact that they will not learn to cut hair. However, habia are adamant that the diploma is not supposed to be a vocational course and point out that the NVQ already exists for students looking to follow that path. "It should be pointed out the Diploma, across all lines of learning, is not and never has been a vocational or practical qualification designed to give young people work based competency in the manner of an NVQ," says Employer Champion for the Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies Gill Morris in a letter to the newspaper. "Whilst it does contain practical elements and offers the opportunity for work experience, the Diploma is a broad-based educational programme which allows young people to choose and develop areas of interest from a wide range of subjects before going onto further training or learning, whether vocational or academic. "The aim of the Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies in particular is to give young people with an interest in the subject the knowledge, theory and employability skills, such as team work and reliability, that employers would like them to have upon entering the industry so that they can be developed further by businesses and training providers themselves. "This ‘preparation for work’ approach (as opposed to the ‘work ready’ approach of vocational qualifications such as NVQs) is what makes the Diploma stand out, as it gives young people the basic skills, knowledge and understanding from which they and future employers and educators can build on without tying them to one career path. "Young people are not expected to have cutting skills upon entering the hairdressing sector, nor is it desired by the overwhelming majority of hairdressing businesses. On-the-job training is still the norm in the hairdressing industry, and this will continue with the Diploma. The major difference is that recruits will enter the industry much better prepared, informed and knowing what is expected of them." Let us know whether you welcome the creation of the Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies by joining the discussion on the My HJi forums.