Whether you are interested in pursuing a degree in a particular field or advancing your career, you’ll need to know if a particular course will be recognised by an employer. However, distance learning does have its advantages, which will be explored further below. The courses you study through distance learning may help you get your first job in a new sector, or they could even boost your current career prospects. In either case, you should be careful when choosing your courses.
Distance learning courses are generally recognised by the government, allowing you to continue your education. In the case of a National Certificate course, for example, you can expect your course to be recognized by your employer. However, if you’re looking to pursue a diploma program from an institution with a lesser reputation, you’ll need to check whether it’s legitimate. Even though you might not receive official recognition from an employer for further study, your diploma can help you prove your strengths and transferable skills in your career.
What type of qualification will your course earn you? The answer depends on what you’re aiming to achieve. Some courses award certificates, but these don’t represent a qualification in the relevant field. This means that they don’t require a long study period or a formal exam. However, if you’re seeking a recognised qualification, you’ll want to consider a National Certificate course. There are several reasons for this:
Aside from the fact that they’re more flexible, distance learning is a great option if you have a busy life and/or children. The flexibility of distance learning courses allows students to make them fit into their busy schedules. In addition, you don’t have to go back to school each day, which means you won’t have to re-arrange your life around your courses. It’s also a practical route to a degree qualification.
A course that’s offered through distance learning is often highly sought-after by employers. These courses can enhance your personal qualities, such as time management, organisation, and confidence in the field. This is especially true if you have already been working in the field for a while. In addition, the courses are recognized by universities and other educational institutions. So, you’re likely to get a degree from a distance learning program.
However, online courses don’t always lead to degrees. Some courses simply aim to build your skills and can be found on the Internet. ‘Massive Open Online Courses’ are another option. These courses are free and offered through universities or private providers. While they don’t offer a formal qualification, you can complete them at your own pace. Moreover, some campus-based degree courses may be temporarily online, due to mitigating circumstances.
A good online course integrates multiple learning modalities. Many students learn differently. Some are visual learners, while others need to hear information to retain it. Good online courses incorporate multiple modalities and allow students to learn according to their style. They are easy to navigate and contain a clear layout. The courses should have been reviewed by a third-party organization to ensure that they meet quality standards. This ensures that students won’t have any trouble accessing information.
