What is continuing education? Institute of Continuing Education

The constantly developing world makes more demands on man. That is why there is a need to find out what a continuous education is, because in a situation of constant competition, the result is a winner who learns, retrains and applies the acquired knowledge in practice.

We find out the meaning of the term

So, what is continuous education? This concept appeared in the world relatively recently, only at the end of the 20th century, but quickly took one of the key places in the list of pedagogical and social problems of a large number of countries. The phenomenon itself can be described as a process of uninterrupted growth of a person's educational potential throughout his life. This includes both his general erudition and professional development as a modern specialist, a connoisseur of his work. From the organizational point of view, the functioning of the institute of continuing education as a social phenomenon is provided by the support of the interested state and society, which help to support the stable activity of educational structures (formal and informal, private or country-owned, basic and additional, basic and parallel, as well as Set of others).

On what functions is continuous education directed?

The decision of educational and training tasks and achievement of the set goals should meet the two main areas of activity. It:

• Taking into account perspective and actual social needs, providing the modern information society with knowledgeable professionals in their fields of knowledge, replenishing the social environment with cultural and versatile people;
• Satisfaction of the objective aspiration of the individual to constant self-education and development throughout life.

So, in general terms, what is continuous education, we found out. But what is really hidden behind abstract and not fully understood terminology? Let's understand.

Qualitatively new phenomenon or not?

Despite the fact that the name of the phenomenon was invented quite recently, the Institute of Continuous Education itself is familiar to everyone: both the adult and the young. The fact is that it takes place where the continuity of the links of the educational chain is ensured and their meaningful unity is realized. So, the transition of a person from a kindergarten to a school, then to a school, institute, university or academy, and then - going to work and there is an example of continuous education, albeit extremely schematic. Here, the entry of an individual into an independent life is preceded by a childish and youthful formation, after which the realization of educational activity takes place already during adulthood, where knowledge is predominantly interspersed with practice. In the classification of types of continuing education, it is also possible to identify additional, post-graduate, professional and others. Agree that in this sense, continuous education and education is nothing qualitatively new. However, today this phenomenon has interesting and unique features that reflect its specificity.

Age shift

The continuing development of the world can be said "thank you" at least for the fact that thanks to him we not only have the opportunity to know what is continuing education, but also to participate in it, regardless of what date of birth is in our passport. If earlier to start or continue studying in adulthood seemed something shameful or inappropriate to an adult who was held by a person, today statistics reveal interesting facts: the traditional type of student under 25 years is gradually disappearing into the past. So, in the USA, more than 43% of all students are older than this indicator. 45% are engaged in studies only partially, that is, they no longer regard it as an end in itself, but combine the acquisition of knowledge with practice. In addition, the data directly related to Russia show that in some regions, about 50% of graduates of higher education institutions and up to 64% of graduates of secondary professional institutions change their specialty immediately after they finish their alma mater. And world sources report that only 4% of able-bodied inhabitants of the planet work by profession, which they acquired initially. These are facts that can not be either good or bad, but their obvious advantage is the gradual victory of people over the fear of retraining and wasting time. Today it is no longer the most precious human asset. The phrase "Vek zhivi - vek vychis'" (Learning to Live) is gaining momentum.

Continuous learning

By the way, continuous professional education should not be confused with continuous training. The latter is a branch of education and training, while continuing education refers to a wider area - socialization. If training places the message at the head of the learner specifically on knowledge and is characterized by the length of the person's stay in the walls of educational institutions of different types, then continuing education is a qualitatively different category. It includes not only knowledge, but also skills, skills, the performance of a certain social role in the process of social and working life, the development of the opportunity to rationally organize their time, solve problems, adapt to constantly changing conditions.

Renewable education

Renewable education is a term that is somewhat related to continuing education. It is identical to obtaining education "in parts" throughout life. Even if a person departs from the practice of a long stay in one institution, he nevertheless learns through the implementation of other activities, resorts to alternative techniques and methods. The system of continuous vocational education thus covers the entire life of a person, from birth to death, even though people are not always students.

The concept of changing Russian education

Today in Russia, as in many other developed and developing countries of the world, an active program is being developed to improve the institution of such education. It includes 4 activity vectors:

• Improving the quality of education professionals;
• Transition to continuing education by profession;
• Ensuring investment in the education sector;
• Reform of general (secondary) education.

Of course, in our native country today there are a number of problems and difficulties. For example, in Russia it is not the individual educational programs and plans that are accredited, but the educational institutions themselves, and therefore the importance of obtaining a diploma of a particular institution still prevails over the value of obtaining the necessary skills as such, while for human convenience they are often taught today in the form of Short, but information-intensive courses or trainings. The distance form of training can not be fully implemented, which will not suit students when it comes to, for example, continuous medical education. After all, the future physician should primarily be present before the teacher personally. In addition, due to differences between countries, professional and personal development can not be fully realized. Let's take a continuous mathematical education, which is extremely promising today. A person who is hungry for knowledge will still remain confined to his own place of residence. To continue studying abroad, he will need funds that, even with their talent, can simply not be found in the representatives of the hinterland.

We are engaged in self-education

However, if a person's goal is not a continuous medical education or another, similar to him, connected with a narrow profile, then one can do self-education even at home and improve some of his own skills. Priority for modern and educated people today:

• Knowledge of at least one foreign language;
• Mastering a personal computer and a basic set of standard programs;
• Tracking of professional news: monitoring of the Internet, reading of specialized literature, readiness to practice once again "on the next site";
• Knowledge of resources where you can "learn to learn," that is, the relentless search for the required information;
• Development of responsibility, discipline, creativity, initiative and self-confidence.

The main thing is to remember: it's never too late to start!