Skills and education are important for anyone who wants to stay relevant in the job market. As new technologies emerge, skills that were once essential can become outdated. That is why it is important for people to keep their skills and education up to date so that they can continue to work in the field that they are passionate about.
As new technologies emerge, people need to be able to adapt quickly in order to stay competitive in the workforce. This means keeping up with education and skills training as well as adapting current knowledge of technology or industry practices. Maintaining a high level of skill and knowledge will help people remain relevant in their careers while also helping them find work if they need it because there is a higher demand for skilled workers than unskilled workers.
For those with an established career or who have been working in a similar sector or role for decades, the thought of heading back to an educational setting can understandably be a daunting one.
As well as having to retrain oneself on how to take in and retain information, revision notes and exam stress, there is also the high likelihood that at this point other things – such as family commitments and finances – have taken priority in your life.
That being said, each year a huge number of people decide to take the plunge and become a mature student. During 2019/20 academic year, mature students accounted for 37% of all undergraduate entrants
Below, Kevin Coupland, Director of People and Skill Development at subscription based learning platform StaySharp, outlines some of the benefits of reentering education to further ones career progression, regardless of their age:
Life experience and a dedicated focus
For the majority of 18 year old undergraduates, enrolling on a university course and moving to a brand new town or city marks the first taste of independence away from home. This can also mean that the actual work and study involved can take a backseat to more social activities.
On the other hand, those heading back into the field of education after a long gap have had the chance to hone their skills, and should have a relatively solid idea of what they do and don’t enjoy doing workwise. They may also have a better understanding of their preferred learning, writing and revising style, and be all around better equipped to choose a course and specific modules that will ultimately lead them down their dream career path.
Financial opportunities
Despite earnings of previously employed mature students taking somewhat of a temporary dip for those who enrol on a full-time course, there are other options for those who cannot afford to give up work all together in order to focus on their academic studies.
Many university and accredited online courses can be taken part-time or even alongside a full-time role, plus the investment in one’s future is also paving the way for potentially much higher earning potential once your studies are completed.
Mental health and wellbeing benefits
Engaging or continuing to engage with formal education in adulthood has long been seen as beneficial to learners for a multitude of reasons, with the mental health and wellbeing benefits being of particular importance.
Research carried out back in 2009 by surveying adult learners reported that learning does impact positively upon wellbeing. More recently, the Mental Health Foundation reported data demonstrating the benefits of being an older learner, most notably health improvements including helping ward off dementia, as well as contributing to a reduction in depression, anxiety and loneliness.
Family situations
It’s extremely common that those who become mature students are revisiting their education and re-evaluating their chosen career paths following the decision to take time out of work to raise their family.
As children grow older, begin their own school journeys and start to rely on parents a little less, many parents seek the opportunity to also re-enter educational settings and look ahead to their own personal career development.