In this guest blog post, Yuru Tang explores the importance of Lifelong Learning and introduces a new range of micro-credentials at Trinity College Dublin that can help you successfully pursue it.

Lifelong and life-wide learning have become popular topics within Higher Education settings in recent years. The demands for adaptability to an ever-changing world has increasingly led people to pursue lifelong learning to keep pace with industry and societal developments and to advance their careers. Trinity College Dublin, as Ireland’s flagship university, is proud to be offering a new range of micro-credentials designed to provide lifelong learning opportunities to busy professionals. Micro-credentials are short, accredited learning experiences that focus on a specific area of expertise or address an identified skills gap.

The benefits of Lifelong Learning

Ever since childhood, we as humans are constantly learning new skills, such as learning to walk or to ride a bike. At all stages of our lives, it is important that we continue learning as it has significant benefits in terms of both professional upskilling and personal development and fulfilment. Four key reasons individuals may be motivated to engage with lifelong learning are to:

Enhance career prospects

Lifelong learning can ensure that we invaluable develop skills which can keep us competitive in an ever-changing job market. The advent of new technologies and ways of working requires professionals in all sectors to be adaptable and to stay ahead of industry developments. Many organisations also value employees who not only have relevant work skills but also have a passion to continue learning and a commitment to maintaining career readiness.

Maintain self-motivation

The fulfilment we get from thinking creatively and critically and learning new skills can be extremely beneficial for our mental health. Acquiring new knowledge and interacting with experts in our chosen field may help us to reignite our professional passions and increase our self- motivation.

Boost professional confidence

Engaging with lifelong learning and increasing our knowledge and capabilities can provide a boost to our self-confidence in our professional lives. As we build our understanding and learn from highly skilled leaders throughout the learning process, we will be more confident to present our opinions and strategies in a professional setting and enhance our performance at work.

Keep up to date with industry changes

We live and work in a fast-paced, constantly evolving world and societal and industry changes can seem to happen overnight. Working professionals need the skills and confidence to identify new trends, embrace new technologies and constantly adapt to the needs of the new world of work. One way to equip ourselves to adapt in a confident and measured way to these changes and developments is through embracing lifelong and life wide learning.

How to engage with Lifelong Learning

We are in a world where the learning process is simpler than ever due to the increase of online events, and courses. Some accessible steps that everyone can consider include:

Join industry-specific webinars or workshops
Access online learning resources, such as tutorial videos, industry reports and papers
Engage with a high-quality higher education provider to access relevant learning experiences
Speak with your employer about learning opportunities that may be offered or funded by your work

Trinity College Dublin is now offering short, flexible, and accredited micro-credentials. Delivered by experts in the field of study, ensuring the high standard of education and quality assurance that Trinity is renowned for. To learn more about the micro-credentials at Trinity please visit www.tcd.ie/courses/micro-credentials/about or email us at micro-credentials@tcd.ie