Results of some NVQs and BTECs have been co-ordinated

This year, colleges and award bodies have published key results on one day.

Education Minister Jane Hutt said Thursday had been named "vocational results day" in a bid to give students greater recognition.

Next week, the results of A-levels, AS-levels and Welsh Bac exams will be announced.

This year, 4,790 BTEC National certificates have been awarded in Wales, compared to 4,390 in 2005-6.

Ms Hutt said Wales was the only country in the UK co-ordinating its vocational results at Level 3 (university entry level) in this way.

Further education colleges in Wales have felt for many years that students who achieve outstanding results in their vocational qualifications do not get the public recognition they deserve John Graystone

"I am extremely pleased that we in Wales are the first to hold a vocational results day across the UK," she said.

"There are so many young people across Wales who are now achieving these good results.

"We need to give the same recognition that we will be giving next week to those who are coming through with their very important A-level, AS and Welsh Bac results."

The results day, including BTECs, Cache diplomas and NVQs, has been coordinated by Fforwm, which represents all 25 further education colleges and institutions in Wales.

Chief Executive John Graystone, said he hoped the event could gain further prominence in the future.

"Further education colleges in Wales have felt for many years that students who achieve outstanding results in their vocational qualifications do not get the public recognition they deserve," he said.

One of the largest awarding bodies for NVQs is City and Guilds, which has awarded more than 3,000 NVQs at Level 3 in Wales this year, with the greatest number being achieved in health and social care.