Back to Education

There are several reasons why someone who has left education either recently or in the distant past, may be considering a return to learning. They may be:


         

• considering a career change;
• wishing to develop their career to a different level;
• looking to return to work after a period of time out of the workplace;
• wishing to develop themselves personally and fulfil their potential.

These days it is never too late to return to learning although each individual needs to ask themselves a number of questions to get the most from the experience.

1) What do I want to achieve? Do I have any particular careers in mind?

For those who have no clear idea about a career direction help is available at the Jersey Careers Service and Employment & Social Security in the form of diagnostic tests. These will ask a series of questions on your interests and abilities, the answers to which will generate a list of job ideas. These can provide a starting point for a careers interview with a trained adviser.

If there is a specific career objective then it is important to get accurate and current information about the skills and qualifications required for entry into that career area - we live in changing times.

2) Which method of learning will suit me?

There are three main methods of undertaking formal learning - full-time, part-time and by distance learning. The method you choose will largely depend upon your own individual circumstances, the time you have available and what it is you want to study. You should also try to consider the type of learner you are e.g. if you are not happy working on your own and find it difficult to motivate yourself in that situation then studying by distance learning could be extremely difficult for you.

3) How long is the course and what is the commitment?

This is again dependent upon the learning that you want to do. The most important thing is to consider how it will fit in and affect your life.

4) What is the cost and is there any financial help available?

There can be help from the States of Jersey for learning in a number of areas. Details of the funding offered by the Education, Sport and Culture Committee can be found in the Student Finance section. There are also some sources of funding through private trusts and scholarships. Before assuming that there is no help available it is worth talking to a careers adviser