Lifelong Learning

It is suggested that the new careers will require you to be "learning a living" rather than simply earning a living.

Mary McMahon

To be successful in your career today requires a commitment to ongoing development. While university may provide you with the credentials to succeed in your career it is only the beginning. The rapid pace of economic, technological and social change that is occurring in our society means that knowledge is rapidly outdated and in order to keep up with these changes you need to continually revise your skills.

We can learn about new developments in formal or informal ways. Below are listed a variety of ways in which we acquire new information:

Formal

• postgraduate studies (postgraduate certificates, honours, masters, PhD)
• university
• private colleges
• professional development
• membership of professional organisations
• short courses
• conferences.

Informal

• reading current literature - journals, newsletters, books
• having a mentor
• learning on the job
• research on the internet
• libraries
• Internet
• discussions with colleagues online (newsgroups)
• meetings with colleagues
• interactions with other professionals.

Therefore, once you have completed your formal studies, you may still continue to engage in productive learning via formal or informal methods.