Discover the Benefits of Continuing Education

The guiding principle for those who seek knowledge is to consistently expand their understanding. Knowledge is often likened to an ocean – the deeper we delve, the closer we come to its vastness. No one in the world possesses flawless knowledge. However, today, the pursuit of knowledge, the search for new information, and the development of skills are pivotal decisions that can transform lives and careers for those currently employed, seeking employment, or considering a job change.

As the world undergoes rapid and exponential change, the traditional paradigm of career prospects is undergoing a drastic transformation. Darwin’s theory is proving to be relevant once again in this context – the world belongs to the fittest, and the fittest are those who have successfully adapted. This raises questions about those who did not make the cut in life’s evolutionary process – what led to their failure to adapt and why are they not counted among the strongest?

The answer is quite easy. It is ‘change‘ itself. In previous years, securing a job was often seen as the ultimate milestone in life.

According to Maslow’s theory of need hierarchy, once the fundamental needs are satisfied, all other needs will be met as well. But recent events have shown us that a person’s ultimate fate cannot be determined by simply landing a decent job. So here comes the concept of ‘continuing education’. Continuing education refers to post-secondary or post-university learning options, including degree programs, online courses, career training, and more, especially after a gap. This opportunity proves to be immensely beneficial for women who have taken a career hiatus, or for those who wish to relaunch their careers after a break.

Continuing education is necessary for the current era as the demands of the industry keep changing frequently. Keeping yourself updated becomes vital to survive. If you aspire to thrive in your career, seek a transformative shift, or yearn for professional advancement, there is no alternative but to remain competitive and continually update your skills.

Here are a few options:

Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificate Courses: Post-degree programs and Professional certifications can be also done online. A vast majority of universities and educational institutions now offer diverse certification programs tailored to specific needs. Additionally, open universities with flexible learning schedules, such as IGNOU (http://www.ignou.ac.in) and Sree Narayana Guru Open University (https://sgou.ac.in), are noteworthy examples of this trend.

Language Learning: Learning new languages widens your scope of entering the world of opportunities in various industries. It can open opportunities in other countries. After English, try German, French, Spanish, or Italian.

Periodic Licence renewal: If you are a person with professional qualifications, every year or in a specified frequency, you must renew and upskill your qualifications. For example, Microsoft role-based certifications expire after 1 year to ensure that the professionals are updated.

Extension courses: Join Extension courses of Universities and Colleges not as a regular student. Extension
schools offer thousands of courses that will help you to upskill and reskill. Most of the prominent Universities have extension schools. Eg. Harvard Extension School, Cambridge Assessment International Education.

CEU Courses: Continuing Education Units are equivalent to 10 hours of a certification program which is
useful for professionals.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” Henry Ford

Author Manju Malathy is a social activist who is also a passionate trainer with 12 years of experience in higher education. Additionally, she holds the position of Provisional Zone Trainer Junior Chamber International India Zone 20