Continuous learning is the idea that learning is something for life, an essential skill in professional life
At New Economy, the thought that the study phase ends when we graduate from school or college has no place. This is because, in a job market increasingly competitive, those who stop updating cannot stay in the running.
That's why you hear so much about lifelong learning, which is nothing more than continuous learning. After all, studying throughout our lives is what allows us to follow market movements, which are increasingly constant and accelerated.
This concept emerged in the 1970s, in Europe, but gained strength in the 1990s, and took off with the popularization of digital teaching tools and EAD (distance education).
Lifelong learning is based on four pillars, defined by Lifelong Learning Council Queensland, creator of the concept. To embark on this, you must be willing to learn to know (question to obtain knowledge), to do (prepare for new challenges), to live together (to have empathy and know how to manage conflicts) and to be (evolve with autonomy and responsibility) .
This modality has some differences in relation to basic education. O lifelong learning is based on specific courses, linked to the area of activity or the interests and affinities of each person. Furthermore, unlike the traditional model, in which students follow a series of mandatory steps until training, in lifelong learning the search is free and determined by each person’s needs.
Keeping an eye on this trend, Many companies create corporate universities to offer courses in the most diverse areas for your employees, from the most technical to soft skills. Furthermore, With the advancement of technology and the immense variety of information at the click of a button, learning has become much easier.
Any type of course is valid, from short to more extensive (such as an MBA), online or in-person: what matters is to continue studying to update yourself and, consequently, remain relevant in the profession.
The benefits of dedicating yourself to lifelong learning are many, points out one research carried out by the University of Tehran. According to this work, continuous learning makes the mind sharper, improves our interpersonal skills and provides us with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate well in our personal and professional lives, especially in a knowledge-based economy, in which constant changes bring demands. different at all times.
