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Because it is not always easy to know what the realities are behind the vocabulary used in the training and education sector, let us try to clarify the differences between initial and executive education.

Initial training: definition

Initial training courses are higher education courses that are part of the continuity of a person's education as a student. In other words, two-year courses after the baccalauréat (BTS, BUT or BTA), all university courses in the European LMD system (Licence, Master, Doctorat) as well as the various programmes of the major business schools (Bachelor, BBA, PGE, MSc, Mastère, MBA) or engineering schools are initial courses. These are made up of theoretical courses, practical courses and sometimes periods of work experience or alternating work experience (under an apprenticeship or professionalization contract). They enable students to obtain a diploma at Bac+2, Bac+3, Bac+5, Bac+8 level or an RNCP title validating the acquisition of professional skills. Statistically, students are no longer considered by INSEE to be in initial training when they interrupt their studies for more than a year, particularly when they decide to take up their first professional activity.

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Executive education: definition

Executive education, sometimes referred to as "adult education", is a learning process that allows an individual who has completed initial education to acquire new skills. It should not be confused with "vocational training", which can in fact concern both students in initial training and professionals in executive education. Executive education is therefore aimed at people returning to school, those undergoing professional retraining after a few years in the workforce, jobseekers, employees who want to train with a view to professional development or managers who want to have their acquired experience validated as part of a VAE. Some executive training courses, known as "qualifying" courses, lead to a professional qualification, a diploma or a professional title, as their name suggests.

What are the differences between executive and initial training?

Firstly, these two types of training are not aimed at the same audiences. Initial training is of interest to students, whereas executive training is aimed at people who already have professional experience and are considering training for various reasons (obtaining a higher diploma, retraining, changing specialisation, etc.).

Whether it is initial or executive training, the cost of training can vary from one to fifteen. But the means of financing are very different depending on the type of training course chosen. In the first case, apart from grants and work-linked training, it is difficult to find other ways of financing one's studies. On the other hand, those who wish to follow a executive education course can mobilise their Personal Training Account (CPF) or have it financed, in full or in part, by their company, Pôle Emploi or sometimes the regional or departmental council to which they belong.

Many vocational training courses can be taken at a distance so that learners can reconcile their studies with their professional lives. But more and more initial training courses are now also offered "online first". This is the case with ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Online courses, which are suitable for professionals as well as for students wishing to take distance learning courses, for convenience or to carry out a professional or entrepreneurial project in parallel, for example.

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