By Michelle Miller, AIWC Cologne and Education Team Co-Chair
In March, the Education Team begins its yearly focus on continuing education. Educators will tell you that one of their most cherished goals is to foster lifelong learning in their students. Life is simply better in so many ways when we continue our education, in whatever ways we can. That sounds great, but what exactly are the benefits of continuing education? Here are a few:
- Writing for Forbes, Dr. Tracy Brower notes in her article, Learning is a Sure Path to Happiness: Science Proves It that studies illustrate the connection between learning and improved self-confidence, self-determination, resilience and motivation, a broadened perspective, and general health and happiness.
- One such study assessed the role of continuing education in lifelong learning among students at two universities in China. The researchers concluded that continuing education initiatives should be included in initial courses of study to promote lifelong learning.
- For individual viewpoints on why it is important to continue our education, take a look at this CareerVillage.org blog. The discussion is so interesting because the answers given to a student’s question about why continuing education is important are posted by people in all sorts of professions from all over the world, from an electrician in Tennessee to a saxophone teacher in Brazil to a counseling psychologist in Nigeria.
