Resting on your laurels just won’t cut it in the current economy.
Lifelong learning has become a necessity for modern workers, many of whom are feeling the pressure to upgrade their skills in the face of an increasingly competitive job market.
While the recent recession has seen large numbers of mature students returning to school to retrain, Western’s Continuing Studies is also seeing big increases in numbers this year.
“People either need to gain more practical knowledge or skills before they enter the workforce, or there isn’t the workforce to enter,” says Greg Yantz, Coordinator of Post-Degree Programs at Continuing Studies.
“Whether it be through some sort of credential that they want to achieve to provide them with a solid foundation for their own progression through the ranks, or whether it be to get into a job, we can help with that feeling of uncertainty that’s out there.”
Continuing Studies offers two types of programming. There are post-degree programs, which include a practicum component and appear on your university transcript, as well as professional/personal development courses and corporate training that can provide employees with professional designations.
Christine Wilton, Coordinator of Professional, Personal and Corporate Programs, says they’ve seen growth in both areas.
While registration has risen, some areas have seen dramatic increases. The numbers in personal development classes, which include languages, culture and the arts have risen by 16 per cent. Business and management courses are up by 17 per cent. Registration in post-degree programs is up 83 per cent.
“People are constantly looking at ways that they can continue to learn and upgrade themselves so that they can stand out in the workforce,” says Wilton. “[They are asking] what have I done in my area? And they’re looking to upgrade, maybe get those professional designations.”
But while the economic climate of the last 12 months may have added some urgency to the need to stay ahead of the game, both Wilton and Yantz say there are other factors at play. Word of mouth that these educational opportunities are available is spreading, and new courses are popping up all the time.
“Many of these fields are also new, and didn’t exist ten years ago. And so in part, the response is in direct relation to some exciting new fields. Pedorthics, for example, really wasn’t a field as little as five years ago,” says Yantz. Wilton feels that attitudes towards lifelong learning have also changed over time, from both a corporate and individual standpoint.
“I think people are really starting to learn that lifelong learning does better a community. It starts at the individual. It improves the individual in their life, in their work, they go in, they make that change in the organization, affects the organization, affects the community…it really does snowball.”
Doug Rodwell is one person who is taking advantage of the opportunity to gain new skills, despite having entered the workforce some time ago. A building supervisor with Physical Plant & Capital Planning Services, Rodwell has worked at Western for 27 years. He is enrolled in the Foundations of Coaching program, through Continuing Studies.
Rodwell feels that today’s work environment is more conducive to continued education, and is eager to add to his existing skill and knowledge base. “The coaching program will provide me a better understanding of self and provide clearer communication within the university community,” he says. “I believe employers do expect more from their employees than before. They encourage more lifelong learning, but also provide support within the organization to utilize the skills learned.”
For more information, visit: www.uwo.ca/cstudies
The writer is a master’s graduate of the Western journalism program.