Maybe this is you: You finished college and swore you’d never take another class.
You were wrong — because that was so yesterday.
“People would get a college degree, and they thought their shadow would never again darken the hallways of college,” said Ray Schroeder, associate vice chancellor for online learning at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “But then we began to see, as tech advanced, that continuing education was the norm, and very few people ended their education at the age of 22.”
Technology continues to breed demand for professional education courses that emphasize coding, Web development, software training, data analysis, digital marketing and more.
Municipalities are offering them. So are universities, community centers and for-profit schools responding to the digital economy and the entrepreneurship that it’s inspiring.
Blue Sky Innovation today unveils a database? of Chicago schools and organizations that offer professional classes designed for entrepreneurs, aspiring Web developers and those interested in professional advancement and enrichment.
They add to the growing portal of business resources that we call The Vault ?, and they’re part of Blue Sky’s education focus for August.
Throughout the month, we’ll emphasize education topics and trends in business, entrepreneurship and technology as we approach fall and the beginning of another school year for kids and adults. Our coverage will include a special MBA guide; classroom insights from entrepreneurs who teach; and the emergence of technology and entrepreneurship in the classroom.
More Top Picks Best Acupressure Mats For Headaches
Our new professional-education database includes, for each school or organization, the types of classes offered, length of classes, cost and contact information, including links to their websites.
And this is just a start. We’ll continue to add to our database, giving you one source from which to fulfill your professional-education curiosity, inspiration and needs.
Researchers say professional-education options are growing as costs increase for a traditional college education, including an advanced degree.
“There’s been a transformation of learning recently,” said Jim Fong, director of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association’s Center for Research & Consulting. “This is a lower-risk alternative for a number of people for a variety of reasons. The perceived value of a traditional degree is changing.”
Danielle Braff is a freelance writer.