Technology is revolutionizing the way we learn. Adults in the UK spend on average 24 hours a week on the internet. We do our shopping online, talk to our friends online, and watch movies online. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that we can learn online. In the last decade alone, online education and courses have boomed from a small area of the market to virtually taking over the education and technology space.
This trend is not only growing in popularity, but it may also soon be the main way that learners attend school, get trained in their jobs, and participate in ongoing training to keep their knowledge and skills current in today’s fast-paced business world. Read on to find out why this is such an exciting and accessible option for people in all stages of their careers.
The benefits of online CPD courses
People are always looking for opportunities to grow, and to know that they have the opportunity to move up the career ladder and try new things. Online part time courses are a valuable and efficient training tool across all organisations and industries, allowing full-time employees or those who that may not have previously considered further education opportunities to continue to study and broaden their knowledge through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). When it comes to career development, the flexibility, cost savings, more efficient use of time and staff motivation offered by online courses are all benefits that are hard to ignore.
When people learn at their own pace, studies show that they retain more information and are far more likely to accept ownership of their own learning and to be more proactive in their actions. Each learner has unique preferences and learning goals. At the start of any training program, the chances are low that everyone will have the same level of knowledge, skill or experience. Some might already be familiar with certain parts of training that they don’t want to waste time repeating, and others might be completely new to aspects of the learning.
Without a doubt, one of the main advantages of distance learning is the ability for individuals to fit learning around any existing obligations, allowing people to schedule their study while maintaining a healthy family and social life. Employees can participate in their online courses at any time - including at home or during down time at work - so learning doesn’t have to conflict with other important or time-sensitive job tasks. They can access training materials, watch live or recorded lectures, take assessments, or interact with instructors and other learners wherever they may be located.
Through online CPD courses, employees have more choice in what training they can pursue. Employees can choose the degree that is relevant to their career aspirations and to their company, whether it’s a short course in a specialised computer program, an undergraduate degree in business, or something else. Online education platforms allow employees to revisit key information as learning materials are stored online, so employees can access important resources any time they encounter a question or difficult situation. Materials can be updated quickly and easily. When new information or technology become available, rather than having to update and reprint material, this can simply be added or updated online in order to keep it current.
With technology advancements, little is sacrificed in terms of the quality of training that can be offered. Employees are able to get real-time feedback during training, and everything is connected, with up-to-date analyses on how courses are performing, allowing employees to quickly get up to speed on new processes which can be key to success.
Face to face learning environments can pose serious obstacles to many potential learners and so online or distance learning can be an excellent option for those who have health issues or other reasons why they can’t fit into the 9-5 learning schedule. Recorded lessons, written content, webinars and collaborative online education software make it easy for anyone with an internet connection to access everything they need. Through online CPD courses, employees aren’t put under unnecessary time pressure, or painted with the one-size-fits-all training approach.
Time
Time is an asset many businesses don’t have enough of. One major complaint of traditional training methods is that the time consuming nature of the programs takes away from valuable time that could have been spent on other work. As organisations grow, the need for training grows. Larger businesses must decentralise decision-making, as it becomes impossible to operate without significant delegation. That means it’s easy to outgrow your existing training and development processes. This is especially true for businesses that rely on conventional, in-person training methods, with class sizes being limited by the size of the venue and the cost per delegate. Companies often have numerous locations and offices, and at a rapidly growing rate, remote workers or telecommuters. Employers looking to train large numbers of employees can waste considerable time trying to bring these people to one location, or, on the other hand, to have corporate trainers travel to various locations.
Online training, on the other hand, doesn’t require a central location at a specific time with particular personnel. The material can be accessed anywhere, anytime. Tasks that were once manual and unable to replicate become effortlessly automated and scaled to meet the demand.
Affordability
Staff training and development costs UK companies millions of pounds every year, but many businesses are still not reaping the financial benefits that come with distance learning. One barrier for traditional classroom-based education is often the financial cost; small business budgets mean that staff training is often the first thing to be cut, with many of those responsible for training believing that this approach is not cost effective. An online training system can provide the same high quality learning, but without the considerable travel, hotels, and office space costs to accommodate these activities.
With outdated training methods, updating and reproducing learning materials is often costly - with online courses, however, learners have the opportunity to use what they have at home and usually do not have to purchase anything extra. Text packets and lesson plans can be updated easily, and since they remain online, can save on printing costs. A company’s ROI might be the most surprising and apparent advantage of online learning.
Upskilling employees in the current business climate
Employees are arguably an organisation’s most valuable asset. There is often a welcome by-product of a more skilled staff and that is the knowledge that they bring in the form of new processes, attitudes, theories and ideas. More people in the modern age are choosing to pivot mid-career as well as diversify their skills later in life. Upskilling refers to the need for people to take their existing skills and upgrade them so that they can perform better in their current job roles.
Beyond that, upskilling allows individuals potential for promotions into higher levels. For example, it can be used to see if workers require any leadership training in order to become the head of a department, or if they may need to enhance their skills in a particular niche area. Upskilling allows people to merge unusual skills as well to differentiate themselves from the competition, offering employees the chance to further develop their own skills and knowledge. Having an increased level of knowledge in a particular area can have immediate impact on the results of the business.
Introducing the concept of being “a learning organisation” provides a knock‐on advantage of boosting staff morale and motivation. Having employees with an increased knowledge will not only help your workforce to become more innovative, productive, and knowledgeable, but it will also improve morale and make employees more likely to be loyal to the firm over the long run. Streamlining process, identifying waste or highlighting areas for change that will save the business both time and money are just some of the benefits that businesses can reap from employees that have been upskilled.
What are online certificate programs? Typically these type of training showcase employee achievements and are designed for professionals who want to continue working while obtaining an education. Earning a certificate or recognised qualification can help to increase career opportunities or qualify for increased salaries or promotions. Course materials are typically delivered through educational platforms that vary in length, but can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete. Some notable advantages of deploying online certificate programs in your organisation include:
- Uphold company standards
- Track employee performance effectively
- Improve employee motivation
- Provide proof of competency
- Allow employees to upskill
- Enhance credibility of your organisation
There are many distance teaching specialists to choose from, covering a vast array of subjects. However, the issue of fake certificates has become widespread in recent years. As such, it’s vital to ensure that your chosen learning provider is accredited by a recognised body. Having your training accredited by a recognised body is a stamp of approval which gives recognition for the quality and robustness of your training programmes and will add to the value and quality of your training programmes.
Are Online CPD Courses right for my business?
Online education is, in most instances, a more accessible, flexible and efficient method of Continuing Professional Development, that people of all ages and industries can benefit from. Younger generations entering the workforce, and technology being adopted broadly, has driven the popularity of distance learning, however, not everyone has integrated technology into their lives and so it is important to assess how computer-savvy your employees are and whether they have the appropriate setup for online education.
While self-discipline and time management are always involved when it comes to learning, online CPD courses typically involve less guidance from an instructor than traditional learning. Scheduled meeting times are removed, and employees must put themselves in the driver’s seat when it comes to their ongoing education. Knowing how effective training has been is a question that every organisation should be asking, because an investment is only well made if it helped to achieve business goals. Either way, online CPD courses can ensure that you stay ahead of your professional competition and will continue to be a necessary and vital key to success for both employees and business owners into the future.
We hope this article was helpful. This article outlines online courses for business owners based in the UK, and the benefits of this type of training. For more information, please visit the CPD Industry Hubs for more CPD articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development.
