The online education industry is rapidly maturing, and as it does so, many career paths are seeing greater depth of flexibility. People looking to go directly into certain fields or even to transition from one career to another can find varying options to do so through online education.
The way we think about and practice higher education is changing. It used to be that to achieve any sort of higher education, you needed to travel, probably to uproot your life, and attend physical classes in a lecture hall. This is no longer a necessity. While university life is still one that works for many people, it isn’t the only way for higher education to be gained. Online education pathways have given people something that physical education options never could: Flexibility.
This flexibility allows for a broader group of people than ever before to consider higher education as a serious option, not just as a ‘catch the rainbow’ dream. Having so many options and such flexibility when considering your future career pathways is a huge stress reliever for many people. Even when it comes to post-graduate study, there are online options in many fields, from online Ed.D. programs to a master’s in Health Science. Let’s look deeper into why higher education is opening its digital doors and the benefits that it brings.
Table of Contents
Why is Higher Education Going Digital?
The short answer to the question of why higher education is investing in growing digitally is that that’s what people want. As so many other facets of our lives become increasingly digital, why should education be any different? For decades, there have been digital aspects to many different degrees and higher education courses; the final steps into all-digital courses are not as big of a leap as they might seem to some.
A big draw for higher education institutions in offering online courses is that it allows them to offer their services to a much broader range of people. They aren’t limited by lecture hall sizes or the time constraints of professors’ schedules. Lectures are recorded and can be watched by any number of people at once, and smaller classes are replaced with forums and message boards. More importantly, the physical presence of people is not required, which means that people who live far from campus or who would not otherwise be able to attend due to other responsibilities, like work, can pursue online higher education.
The Benefits of Flexible Learning
As to the benefits of a more flexible learning culture, well, they should be relatively obvious. Flexibility opens up higher education to many people who would otherwise simply be unable to complete a course. Feeling that your career isn’t a good fit anymore, but you need a degree to jump ship into a more fulfilling industry? No problem! You can keep working and supporting yourself and your family while spending spare time studying online. This story is one that has been repeated thousands upon thousands of times, and online education allows these people to be able to uplift their lives and careers without needing to make big sacrifices or take huge risks, as they would have had to previously.
Online education provides flexibility that is useful for people looking to advance in the same career field, as well as it can provide career path flexibility for those seeking to change careers. Particularly in fields like nursing and health, or in education, acquiring additional degrees or specializing can open up new roles and higher pay. Similarly, for making career changes, online education gives people who need to continue to work the opportunity and flexibility to undertake that education while still providing for themselves.
Other than the more obvious benefits of being online and not requiring physical attendance, online education often has other elements of flexibility built in. Being able to engage with learning materials in whatever moments are convenient for the student allows them to fit the learning around the other important aspects of their lives. Deadlines can also often be flexible for some elements, meaning that students can work at their own pace and don’t need to feel stressed or under additional pressure from their degree.
Why Online Post-Graduate Degrees Are Particularly Important
While all degrees are beneficial, and the increasing democratization of their access is excellent news for society, post-graduate degrees being made available online are particularly important. This is because many post-graduate degrees are gateways to specific, specialized roles and, in many cases, leadership positions.
Traditionally, this meant that only people who were otherwise supported and had the time to commit to these lengthy study options could get into those positions. Online education, by allowing a broader range of people to engage in post-graduate study, is allowing a more diverse group of people the opportunity to effect systemic change and to reach positions of power.
Final Thoughts
The continued growth and adoption of online learning is a huge boon to the higher education sector. Both for students and for universities and higher education institutions themselves. By offering flexibility in learning options, online education is able to allow many more individuals than ever before to access roles and careers that would otherwise not be possible for them.
The ability to engage in higher education and even in post-graduate learning while still juggling work and familial responsibilities means that people need no longer make tough choices or sacrifices in order to attain career goals.
Brian, the dedicated Editor and Education Enthusiast at Faspe, is a dynamic force breathing life into the realm of education. Grounded in pedagogical expertise and fueled by boundless passion, Brian enriches the team with extensive experience, curating resources that inspire educators and students alike. His unshakable faith in the transformative power of education propels individuals to reach for the stars on their educational journey.