Continuing education means different things to different people. The term is used mainly in Canada and the United States to refer to education acquired after high school education. Other countries such as Britain use the term “further education” to refer to the same thing. If you browse through brochures from many community colleges in Canada and even career colleges you will find a listing of many courses in different categories of adult learners under the heading “Continuing education”.
Continuing education may include courses in Business and Financial Services, Business Management, Computer Studies, medicine, Health and Wellness and Pharmaceutical Sciences among others. These courses help learners to stay current in their field or start a completely different career. Individuals acquire useful knowledge and skills to secure employment.
There are several ways you can acquire this type of education such as through distance learning. Continuing education will be assumed to be synonymous with self-directed learning or distance learning in this article.
How do you continue to learn?
As mentioned earlier the common sources of this education are community colleges, private schools, career colleges and universities. The courses taught may lead to a certificate or even to a diploma. Courses may have as few as 40 hours and as many as over 1000 hours.
There are many non-credit courses that allow people to develop in specific area of interest. People do such courses to succeed or develop in specific areas such as weight loss, healthy living or even writing children’s books. Some colleges are now beginning to partner with businesses in order to provide joint programs that are complementary. Some companies however continue to run their own education programs. Some of the courses they offer are arranged in form of seminars and sometimes as workshops.
Hindrances to continuing education
Self directed learning has many hindrances such as time and money. It is not easy to pursue career courses because of lack of money and time. Time is the biggest constraint as most people have a full time jobs and cannot afford to travel to colleges where these courses are taught. Financing may in some cases be also a constraint.
The Internet has reduced the inconvenience of time constraint by creating an environment for a person to study at home whenever it’s convenient. It’s now possible to pursue many courses at any time in the comfort of a person’s home.
This has alleviated the challenge of traveling as well as the time constraints which are associated with onsite classes. In this connection several colleges and universities are providing career courses as well as other college courses online. Distance education will continue to be an alternative to continuing education. This site was created to meet the same need.
Benefits of Distance learning
Those who have a university degree or college diploma may be able to upgrade their knowledge and even attain certificates and diplomas that are recognized at the workplace. After completing a course some employers ward their employees with a promotion or pay rise in recognition of the added value they bring to the business. Some employers are even willing to sponsor employees to attend these courses. If you are employed and are thinking of continuing education in your field, talk to your employer or your human resources department. We offer continuing education courses in the pharmaceutical industry. Click here for more information.
Become a resourceful to your employer
Apart from the individual who benefits from the learning experience your communities and your country will also benefit. More educated people are able to innovate and solve industrial problems faster as well as solve business problems more easily than those with less education. As well, those who continue on this path are likely to be more successful as entrepreneurs.
You will have the more needed knowledge as well as skills in your chosen field if you improve on the skills that you already have. The world economy is gradually becoming knowledge based. You will have better value systems, judgments and attitudes if you continue to learn. The combination of these ingredients is vital for a healthy nation. One of the greatest benefits you may gain from self directed education is retaining your job. If are not familiar with continuing education, read more about our online english course.
Goal clarification
Continuing education is also known to help individuals to clarify and understand the purpose and goals of their employment position or profession. People are able to focus and work more efficiently because they fully understand their professional goals and limitations. There is a tendency of people to drift from one area to another if they don’t have a clear understanding of their employment goals.
Job protection
Continuing education will give you the chance to have an edge over other individuals who do not have it or be inclined to continuing education. Distance learning has also been found to facilitate the advancement of the various occupations by helping the employees to acquire not only the theoretical but also the practical occupational knowledge which are known to improve a person’s ability to solve job related problems.
Continuing education is valuable if you want to keep your job. These days some companies prefer one employee of the other based on skills and abilities. In case of downsizing you may survive the lay off if you have extra relevant current education which others may not have. This website will be offering online continuing education courses soon in the following areas.Sign up to receive more information when a new course becomes available or bookmark this page.
