I definitely think that would be a good step towards improving competency.

The older professions certainly do that - medicine, accountancy, teaching, trades of all sorts… I guess its because our discipline is relatively young in comparison.

I m pretty sure there are various education establishments that will run courses for people on day release - I think it is probably more unusual though. More genarally in the UK I believet students are recommended to do things like summer vocational placement. Very much left up to the motivated students though.