Importance of continuing education

While higher education enrollments are decreasing and these numbers don’t seem to recover in the near future, continuing education is at the same time gaining popularity and becoming increasingly important in today’s digital landscape. But why is continuing education actually so important?

What is continuing education?

Continuing education refers to any kind of post-secondary education that adults pursue after already having achieved another formal education degree. Some variations in continuing education for professionals are degree programs, online courses, workshops and one-off classes. Many professions today require ongoing continuing education for their employees in different ways.

Why continuing education is important?

Due to the rapid evolution of technology, traditional career requirements are not relevant anymore and entire job functions are disappearing. To meet the evolving needs of the job market, employees need to acquire new skills that are relevant in today’s modern workplace, but which especially will remain relevant in the future. In order to achieve this, employers should offer their workforce upskilling possibilities. Executive education is a great way to close the skills gap of your employees, because there is often a wide variety of flexible options. Online courses for example often allow learners to follow a course whenever they want and at their own pace.

In addition to preparing your staff for an evolving workplace, continuing education also increases employees’ job satisfaction. By providing your workforce with additional training courses and paying for those, you invest in the personal development of your employees and they will feel more valued by the company, which in turn will make it more likely that they will stick around in the future.

More income and more opportunities though upskilling

There are also some other benefits for people who have enriched their knowledge and upgraded their skills through continuing education. The salaries of these non-traditional learners are very likely to be higher, as these professionals have increased their expertise. At the same time, continuous learning increases your chances of promotion, because it makes you more qualified and it reflects your dedication for your work and personal growth. With the skill set obtained during your continuing education, a career transition will become easier as well. You obviously have developed skills that are applicable in different fields, now and in the future.

Continuing education will occupy an important position in transforming the skills of the workforce for meeting the challenges in the ever-changing economic landscape and retaining talent within your organization. For employees it is a great way to develop themselves on both a personal and professional level, considering all the benefits that come with it.

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