What is continuing education?

To put it in one sentence; Continuing education are courses that let you develop your knowledge and skills in a specific area. Having said that continuing education actually differs from the regular "go to school, get a degree and start working" way of learning.

From yearly classes to advanced degrees for whoever wants to develop even further

Some professions require continuing education in a variety of ways. Some of these requirements come in the form of yearly classes or tests to keep you up on changes in your industry. Other professions require continuing education in the form of advanced degrees, which prepare you for new responsibilities and opportunities.

Still other professions require attendance at conferences or lectures to help employees learn from other experts in their field. And why wouldn't they? Research shows that it increases your chances for promotion, it increases your salary, your ability to make career transitions and it improves your image and marketability.

Is it a "pandemic" thing?

No, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, online MBA programs were growing in popularity. The number of accredited U.S. schools with fully online MBA programs increased from 284 to 526 between the 2016–17 and 2020–21 academic years, according to data from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. That’s an 85% increase.

Fact is that during the pandemic the adoption of online MBA's accelerated and the early majority of educators using online tools for hybrid education got a head start. 

How it all began

Continuing education and the adult education movement began with the twentieth century. As the world moved to an industrialized economy, the need for continued education and improved access for adults challenged traditional educational venues and created opportunities for both professional and personal skill enhancement and enrichment. Several environmental factors are driving the demand for lifelong learning in the twenty-first century: abundant access to information, rapid technology changes, increased global interactions, industry shifts, as well as increasing entry-level-credentials and skill requirements.

Employers depend on continuing education as a tool for ensuring a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Individuals use continuing education for upward career mobility, job enhancement, and personal enrichment.

New opportunities for University's, High Schools and Business Schools all over the world

The continuing education activity can take place at virtually any time or any place. The format for the continuing education learning should be driven by the content and learning goals. Internet and satellite technology allow employees to engage in educational coursework on the job or at home, which results in a tremendous savings of travel costs and time. Continuing education courses are offered for academic or university level credit, and as non-credit courses. Universities, community colleges, k-12 school districts, private consultants and corporations all participate in offering continuing education content and courses.

The combination of the current "online" market, growth in the number of educational technology companies around the world and the immense opportunities it brings make that educators all around the world are focussing on both online and offline learning and finding a mix that fits their institute. 

Trends in continuing education, scaffolding, lifelong development and programatic assessments are part of the day-to-day educator life... Student ownership is an important focus and employability one of the biggest challenges.