Education

12 SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024 EDUCATION GUIDE Get ready to live your best life with lifelong learning T here's a great way to prepare to live your best life. Embrace life- long learning. "It's an opportunity to grow and to expand your horizons," says Ute Kothe, Dean, University of Manito- ba (UM) Extended Education. "It's in our hands to choose what is best for us, to seek out what we find in- teresting and fulfilling. We can be proactive and make choices, taking ownership of our lives and careers, choosing what we would like to learn and where we would like to go, so we can live as well as possible." While lifelong learning can come to us through formal education at school and in post-secondary stud- ies, it is also much more than that, Kothe says. "It is an attitude, an open mind. Be observant. Try new things. Learn from others, whether your learning is purposeful or by ac- cident." Working professionals often rely on their earlier education, but as you move through your career, the world changes. Continuing your lifelong learning with professional develop- ment is a great way to stay current and get ahead. "Through professional development, you will have the tools to ensure you are ready to advance in your career, and you will continue to enjoy your job, preventing it from getting stale and routine. Lifelong learning will also help to make you uniquely qual- ified for opportunities." Discover new opportunities Kothe was not always so enthusias- tic about lifelong learning. She re- members when she was first asked to take a four-day workshop. "I didn't think I needed to do it. I didn't see the benefits. But it was a life-chang- ing experience. I learned new skills. I networked. It enabled me to see other opportunities. It opened more doors, to help bring me to the next level." She has also seen similar unex- pected results in her colleagues. For example, she recommended a leadership program to one, and they became fascinated with one aspect of it, continued to pursue it with passion, and helped many other col- leagues. "Try it out. See what comes next." Today, there are so many opportuni- ties to learn. "How lucky we are that there are so many free learning op- portunities out there. It's not about choosing one opportunity over an- other. Use the free opportunities to spark your interest and then con- tinue your education in a more for- mal manner to reach a new level of depth and understanding." UM Extended Education allows learners to extend their education and bring it to the next level by pur- suing professional lifelong learning opportunities. "Traditional post-sec- ondary education pays off, but it is a big commitment. Our lifelong learning opportunities are more flex- ible and tailored to the needs of the learner. You can take a single course or complete a short program or cer- tificate with very flexible schedul- ing." The University of Manitoba had one of the first continuing education units in Canada. "Your learning is an investment of time and money. With us, you know you are engaging with an experienced institution. Our courses and programs are meant to help you advance in your life and ca- reer." Kothe highlights some examples of Extended Education's latest pro- grams. Extended Education Programs Building Information Modeling (BIM) Management goes beyond us- ing software to the management of complex processes that is becoming very important in Canada for profes- sionals in architecture, engineering, construction, as well as building owners and operators. Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learn- ing Solutions takes a big-picture ap- proach on how to use and monitor AI and stay ahead of the game. It gives professionals an edge. Media Literacy, Critical Thinking and Investigative Journalism shares how to understand and assess informa- tion, to inform choices, and acquire tools to advance our workplaces and to navigate our complex world. Facilitating Older Adult Learning is a micro-certificate that reminds us that lifelong learning never stops. "Why should it? It's for life, to have the skills to shape your world. We can help you to get better at facilitat- ing lifelong learning for older adults." In a world where knowledge contin- ues to accelerate, it is no longer our limiting factor. "The world keeps changing. We must keep learning and develop the skills to navigate it." UMextended.ca/programs BUSINESS ANALYSIS Become a business analyst or apply business analysis in your profes- sion. Offered in partnership with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). CHANGE MANAGEMENT Enroll in the only Change Management credential offered by an academic/ postsecondary institution in Manitoba. FACILITATING OLDER ADULT LEARNING Enhance your understanding of how aging affects learning, and how to de- sign and provide learning experiences for older adults. APPLIED COUNSELLING Explore the counselling process and learn to develop effective counselling strategies so you can help others. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: MACHINE LEARNING SOLUTIONS Learn how AI and Machine Learning can solve the most important challeng- es in your business or organization and fuel your career. BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) MANAGEMENT Build on your career in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, or as an Owner or Operator (AECOO) and learn to effectively manage your part of a project's lifecycle with BIM project management processes. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Become a leader in HR with innovative courses that correspond with the HR competency framework - providing el- igibility for the CPHR designation. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Take the next step in your management career with an academic credential and a nationally recognized profession- al designation to add to your resume. QUALITY MANAGEMENT Learn how to lead the transition from quality control to quality excellence. Quality Management tools can be ap- plied in any industry. Build on your knowledge base. Transform your future. As we have learned, there is no way to predict the future but you can embrace it and plan for change with online learning. We have the quality courses and programs to help you move forward in your life and in your career. Register now for Fall courses UMextended.ca/programs Try it out and see what comes next

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