Posted on: February 16, 2022

When we think of education, our minds typically picture the youth of society watching on with enthusiasm as their teachers lead lessons that equip them with valuable knowledge and life skills. It’s not often we think of adult learners.  

However, education is a privilege that shouldn’t be reserved solely for children and teenagers. Learning is a lifelong journey that should continue into adulthood and beyond. This is why Stonebridge Associated Colleges have worked tirelessly for over 20 years to provide distance learning courses for adults, in the hope that one day, everyone can achieve their personal goals through continued education. 

So often at school age, young people aren’t sure what they want to do or how they plan to get there. For many people, making such a large decision at that stage of their life is simply out of the question. This is why education is important for adults, and why adult education courses need to be readily available to people once they are ready to make that choice.  

If you are on the fence about re-entering education, check out the rest of this post to hear 10 reasons why we think you should consider becoming an adult learner. 

What is Adult Education? 

You, like many prospective learners, are probably asking yourself ‘What is an adult education programme anyway?’, something we aim to not only clarify, but raise the profile of significantly below.  

Adult education courses can often be referred to as continuing education courses too. So, if you hear either of these terms, you can relax as they are one and the same. They essentially refer to any type of educational course completed by someone who has already completed the cycle of continuous education.  

In other words, anyone who has finished their compulsory school education and decides to re-enter the education system at a later date. There are many reasons why you may find yourself in need of adult education. You might be looking to improve your English, Maths or ICT skills for everyday life, or you might want a career change and be looking for courses to become a Nurse or Classroom Assistant courses.  

No matter your goal, there is nothing in the way of you achieving it. With the flexibility of adult learning courses on offer today, anything is possible! Find out our 10 reasons why adult education is so good below! 

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1. Adult Education Helps Us Keep Up with The Changes in The World 

Since the dawn of technology, the world has been undergoing a rapid transformation. The ways in which we work, communicate, travel and even study have all been altered forever.  

If we are to continue living productive and independent lives, we must keep up with these developments. This is where adult education can really come in handy. Through adult learning courses, we can keep up with worldly advances and learn to understand issues surrounding things such as race, gender, sexuality and religion, all of which helps make a better, more harmonious society.  

In fact, those who don’t advance their adult education and leave their views and beliefs in the past can often face barriers to progress throughout their lives. 

2. Adult Education Helps Us Keep Up with The Changes in Ourselves 

Throughout our lives, our minds, bodies and circumstances are constantly changing. For some people, this means their interests and passions may alter, for others this may mean that their financial situation takes a turn, or they experience an injury or a change in health.  

In any case, as things move on, it is good to be ahead of the curve, so you are ready to adapt to new situations as they arise. Someone who started their career in one field may long for a change, while another, who grew up with plenty of money, may find that they are in need of extra income.  

Adult learning courses allow you to keep your knowledge and skills in line with present times, so you can alter your career whenever you need to. As such, the availability of adult education makes it much easier for us to follow our minds and achieve our potential. 

3. Adult Education Is Essential for Retraining 

As the world changes and technology advances, many jobs that used to exist are no longer necessary. Sadly, for many workers, this shows no sign of slowing down, in fact, positions such as checkout assistants are already on their way out thanks to self-service machines.  

Fortunately, adult education provides individuals with additional options. The ability to retrain quickly and efficiently will benefit the lives of many adults in the coming years. Adult college courses are also essential for individuals who dislike their current role and want to embark on a new path. 

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4. Learning Keeps the Mind Active 

Numerous studies have proven that maintaining an active mind can actually benefit your health. Those who put their brain to use on a regular basis often find themselves benefiting from better memory, sharper reactions and greater attention spans in old age.  

Keeping the mind active doesn’t have to be difficult either. Learning a new language, mastering a new skill or even something as simple as filling in a crossword can have countless mental benefits.  

Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising the body, and it’s just another reason why adult education should be valued and taken seriously. 

5. Learning Keeps You Busy Socially 

People who open themselves up to new learning experiences often find themselves involved in more social experiences. There are many reasons why maintaining a healthy social calendar is beneficial, not least because it helps you stay active, mentally stimulated and connected to others.  

Developing new skills through adult learning courses also adds a new level of interest to a person’s life. If you have strong interests and passions, you are likely to gravitate towards others with similar interests and create healthy, nourishing friendships. These people, who are surrounded by friends and interests, are also likely to benefit from feeling more confident and outgoing. 

6. Education Feeds a Person’s Creativity 

It can be argued that the more a person knows, the more creative they are able to be. If you have more knowledge in certain areas, then it’s likely that you’ll be able to come up with creative solutions to problems in those areas.  

Therefore, it’s only fair to say that continuing education into adulthood and completing adult learning courses helps people to think outside the box. On top of this, a new distance learning adult education course may help feed a person’s creativity by allowing them to express themselves further in a more effective way.  

This type of creativity can provide people with a sense of purpose or even reduce stress and anxiety as their newfound knowledge and skills help them overcome hurdles. 

7. Further Education Sets a Good Example for Future Generations 

So often, children in the UK see education as a finite chore that ends the minute they graduate. However, if children were to witness their parents, guardians or role models embarking on continued adult educational journeys, they would likely begin to see learning as a constant part of life.  

Widely available adult education courses provide young people with a more positive attitude towards learning, helping them to view it as an exciting privilege rather than a necessity. In addition to this, a more educated and motivated adult population is likely to pass on better values, sturdier morals and a stronger work ethic to future generations. 

Online Adult Courses

8. Adult Education Gives People a Second Chance 

For one reason or another many people did not manage to finish their school or college education to the standard that they may have wished. Choosing to start a family, coping with illness, or managing finances can all get in the way of a person’s educational goals.  

However, just because certain people have had to put their education on hold, it doesn’t mean they are not entitled to it. At Stonebridge Associated Colleges, we want to make re-entering education possible for anyone who wants to, regardless of their financial or emotional constraints. That’s why our distance learning adult education courses are suitable for those who have been out of education for some years and have no time to physically attend classes. 

9. We Are Living Much Longer 

In this day and age, people are living much longer than they were in years past. This means that people are able to remain in employment for longer as the retirement age has increased.  

It’s also very common today for people to spend a large percentage of their time at work. This means that if someone doesn’t like their job, they could find themselves feeling unhappy at work for a long time.  

There are many problems with this situation, not least because this could lead to stress, boredom, anxiety and depression. This is why it’s important for adults to feel like there are other options, and readily available adult education courses mean that people in such positions are able to access courses and training to help them build the life they want for themselves. 

10. Adult Learning Is Good for The Economy 

The more educated and productive people we have in the country, the better the economy. If our workforce is made up of innovative individuals with more advanced skills, then we will be fit to deal with the country’s problems and in a better position to develop creative solutions.  

Also, those with qualifications and skills are more likely to find work. This in turn will benefit the economy by reducing pressure on the benefits system. The lower the unemployment rate, the more money the country must invest in other things. For these reasons, adult learning is imperative for economic success.  

Original Article: https://www.stonebridge.uk.com/blog/education-teaching-and-coaching/adult-education/