(They specifically asked about a certification not just “some coursework”.)

I think the problem is in the culture of these institutions, they are not prepared for getting iut of a classroon and getting their hand dirty.

A pretty good set of AWS welding certs can be done in 6wk of night classes.

You can't get paid money to install a toilet in some states until you've started as the jobsite bitch, worked your way up and payed years of your life into the system to get in a position to even be eligible to take the test.

The latter tends to only happen after regulatory capture.

I think they did answer this: it's because hands-on practical/technical skills are hard to learn and people who can teach them are generally expensive.

so it is a much easier sell a creative writing major in a faculty senate or something similar than Aircraft Maintenance. And when you do get Aircraft Maintenance it usually gets tucked into the engineering or business schools in order to survive.

also: https://thedispatch.com/p/we-are-less-educated-than-we-think