Pursuing Adult Education With Economic Recession

Admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:53:17 +0000

The benefit of acquiring advanced level of education and skill comes with a hefty price. Indeed, graduate school can be a tough financial burden that most opt not to pursue it. And yet, they miss out on the rewards of attending graduate school.

The economic recession and the resultant growth of unemployment often lead people to rethink their career choices. Oftentimes, this leads to getting additional training in their current field for broader opportunities or training in a wholly different field where better opportunities lie.

Fortunately, there are more ways to receive training than there was before. Just a few years ago, training was restricted to taking formal classes in a college or university. Long distance and correspondence trainings were not taken seriously.

Nowadays, alternative training and education such as correspondence courses are no longer demoted to a fad or cheap propaganda. Thanks to the advent of the Internet, these alternative forms of education have become more accessible than ever and with it carried a change in which people regard them. People who take up alternative forms of education are now seen as self-disciplined and motivated individuals. Employers see people with these kinds of qualities as desirable and an indispensable asset to the company.

Alternative education can take in the form of certifications, distance courses, and weekend and night classes provided by private for-profit schools. Certifications and distance courses, often pursued with self-paced and self-motivation, have gained much growth and recognition in recent years. Some elite schools like Harvard and Columbia have even taken into granting degrees through distance courses. On the other hand, the rise in private, for-profit schools have made pursuing study and training in a more formal set-up more accessible. The various venues for training effortlessly make it possible to provide any prospective student a choice that would fit his/her preferred field and schedule.

Choosing which school or field to pursue is often the easiest part in continuing education. The hardest part of it is finding a way to finance it. Fortunately, there are ways to go about it.

You may try for a scholarship. However, scholarships were primarily designed for students just entering college or students returning to college. They were developed long before any had a mind to develop alternative learning techniques and distance courses. Though there are a few scholarships that could cater to non-traditional students, these scholarships are quite few. Oftentimes, the scholarships offered by private for-profit schools are no more than a discount on the tuition.

Federal financial aid also offers little help for returning and non-traditional students. Financial aids are only available for undergraduate students. So if you’re thinking of doing graduate work, no federal financial aid would be available for you. The same is true if you are taking up a technical or vocational program.

Now, perhaps the best way to finance your pursuit of additional training is by acquiring a student loan. This type of financial aid makes no difference between undergraduate and graduate students, technical and non-technical courses, and vocational and degree programs. Moreover, student loans are quite easy to qualify for and repayment may be deferred while in school or extended for some period after graduation.

By: Low Jeremy

Major Rewards Offered For Tourism Champions During Economic Downturn

Admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:03:46 +0000

South East Wales, February 2009 – Capital Region Tourism, the lead body for tourism in South East Wales, is launching a new bursary scheme that will provide 20 individuals up to £1000 each to use for training purposes. Individuals in tourism will have the chance to win this substantial bursary to improve their skills and develop their careers. It is believed that maintaining investment in human resource development training for all will maintain the region’s competitive edge during the downturn and accelerate growth when the better times return.

The aim of the Training Bursary Scheme is to build successful candidates’ capacity to raise the quality of the region’s tourism product, and improve the visitor experience throughout South East Wales. Applications will be considered from those able to demonstrate how the investment will impact positively on tourism in the region. The scheme will help individuals involved in the development and operation of tourist related facilities and services, from hotels and attractions, to restaurants and transport providers, who would like to undertake training or personal development that will improve their ability to contribute to a high quality visitor experience. Those most likely to succeed will have to demonstrate previous commitment and a proactive approach to their own development as well as how this investment will benefit their organisation and the wider tourism destination.

Any training which can be demonstrated to be of significant benefit to the individual and of benefit to tourism in South East Wales will be looked at, including, but not exclusively, such areas as management, digital media and ICT, customer service, craft and technical skills, environmental impacts of tourism. Anything from recognised qualifications through an educational establishment (e.g. an HNC) or professional body (e.g. CIM Diploma) to bespoke training delivered on a one to one basis by a private training provider or consultant will be considered.

Alice Brown, HRD Coordinator for Capital Region Tourism explains why the organisation is offering this great opportunity: “We have a commitment to the development of people within tourism. Development of people is much more than improving vocational skills or academic knowledge, though this is an important part of it. It’s about development as a person too. This bursary scheme acknowledges that investment in tourism products and their promotion must go hand in hand with investment in people.”

Capital Region Tourism covers the following local authority areas: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan. In addition the organisation works with Brecon Beacons Tourism.

Anyone interested in the bursary scheme will need to express an interest formally by Friday 20 February 2009. People interested in the bursary scheme and the application process should contact Alice Brown at Capital Region Tourism (tel: 029 2041 6418, alice.brown@capitalregiontourism.org or www.capitalregiontourism.org/skills)

By: Helene Grousset-Rees

Education Economics » Rewards

Pursuing Adult Education With Economic Recession

Major Rewards Offered For Tourism Champions During Economic Downturn