Time out for training and education
Written by Administrator
Date: Thursday, 19 March 2009 10:41
"I'm not the same as I was long ago, I've learned some new things and I hope that it shows." (Neil Young)
There are many reasons people return to study:
- Bring existing skills up-to-date
- Add skills that improve employment prospects
- Learn new skills that are required for new types of jobs
- Left education too early and want to make up for lost time
- Developed an interest in a new area after leaving formal education
- For sheer pleasure
Improving your skills
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival (William Edwards Deming)
Shorthand, weaving, coach-building - all were highly-sought-after skills that are about as useful today as the ability to ride a penny-farthing. Skills and entire industries become out-of-date and obsolete. Good employers include provision for ongoing training but, in reality, we are often too busy doing our jobs to take full advantage of training opportunities. Now you have the time to assess your skills and develop a learning plan that can boost your employment prospects, job satisfaction and earning power.
With the right IT skills, a receptionist who earns £14,000, can become a secretary on £18,000. Add some business communications and foreign language qualifications, and the secretary could qualify to become a personal assistant to a top executive in a global company earning twice as much again. With a management qualification, a retail supervisor on £14,000 could become a store manager earning more than £20,000.
Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education (Mark Twain)What you learn is a very personal choice, but if you focus on topics that combine personal satisfaction with career potential, you are more likely to succeed in your course of study. If you are considering a complete change of direction, focus on areas where there will be strong future demand, for example renewable energy, the environment or care for the aged.
Expanding your knowledge
You might want to use this opportunity to study something for purely personal reasons. Perhaps you never had the opportunity to go to University or you made immature choices and ended up studying science when your real interest was art. Or perhaps you want to extend your knowledge and pursue further qualifications in your chosen area. It is never too late to enter or continue with higher education. Universities make special allowances for mature students and most Colleges of Further Education provide access courses to help you gain entry qualifications.
Education is the best provision for the journey to old age (Aristotle)
The Open University led a revolution in adult and lifelong learning. Nowadays, whether you want to learn the classics, explore sustainable futures or study genetics, there are pathways to achieve these goals that can match your personal circumstances and timescales. All that is required of you, initially, is commitment and a touch of realism in your expectations. Don't expect a red carpet to Oxford but, with the right attitude and preparation, a future place at a good university is not inconceivable.
Finding a course
The homework starts long before you apply for a course:- The Direct Gov website lists almost one million training and education courses you can study in the UK, and the internet will point you to millions more.
- For training courses, see what is on offer from your Local Education Authority . Check out what is available online including product and industry-specific courses as well as offerings from large employment agencies which are in touch with current demand.
- On the UCAS website , you can search for university courses and apply for a specific course.
- Get a prospectus of courses from your local University and College of Further Education. These booklets will give you a much fuller description of the courses and their ultimate value to you, as well as outlining entry requirements and costs.
The Situations Vacant columns are peppered with invitations to enter nebulous training courses with the promise of long-term wealth. Investigate carefully before you make any commitments. Is there a market for the services you are training for? Do they lock you into doing business with them?
Applying for a course
For short courses it can be easy to get on one or more courses quite quickly. For longer courses you need to allow more time for the application process. For example, to go to university, the deadline is as early as October and closes in January for courses starting the following Autumn. It is possible to make late applications but universities are not obliged to consider them. For colleges of further education, it is best to contact the individual institution to enquire about their entry deadlines.
Funding a course
There are almost as many funding avenues as there are courses available. How you fund a course depends on a wide number of factors, including your previous qualifications, your age and the duration, location and nature of the course. The Direct Gov site provides information about the various funding options available, including the help you can get if you are over 19 and:- in education or training
- a parent aged 20 or over
- in a low-paid job or in a job with no training
- on benefits
Each university sets its own policies about bursaries and scholarships for students. Check the university website for details before you apply for a course.
