Wherever you are in life, learning never stops. The value of committing to it is enormous, and clear in the number of courses designed to support career progression. You may not yet be an undergraduate, or already have a master's – either way, we all have something to gain from further study. If you are wondering what areas you could explore as you aim to advance, we have some great suggestions. Read on for our guide to the best courses for professional development.
MBA
If you have ambitions in business, you may well have heard of the Master's of Business Administration, better known by its initials MBA. This postgraduate qualification gives you a grounding in business management that can help you move into leadership roles in the commercial world. While it is typically aimed at professionals with at least a few years' experience, some MBAs accept students without it.
The popularity of the qualification is such that there are a growing range of specialist MBAs. These allow you to boost your business skills in relation to a specific area of industry. Whether you want to move forward in marketing or take flight in aviation, there are options built for you. What's more, many of these offer a targeted work placement, and can be studied online.
Does this sound interesting? Get more inspiration with our guide to the best universities for an MBA.
Programming
Learning to code is now so widely encouraged that many schools have it on the curriculum. With some of their youngest children gaining the skills needed to put together programmes, now may be the time to avoid being left behind. Through a programming course, you can take steps to do this.
Some of the world's leading universities offer free online courses in the area. Harvard University's CS50, for example, has introductory programmes in languages including JavaScript, Python and SQL. If you would prefer to learn in person, you can do so on short courses at institutions worldwide. Our list of vocational programming courses can show you where to look.
Alternatively, you could take a much deeper dive into the subject on a degree course. Explore some great places to do this with our list of the best universities for computer science.
Healthcare
You don't need to be a doctor to help people with their health. Countless short courses enable you to provide vital medical assistance. First aid courses, for example, are widespread. Taking one will set you up with the skills needed to make a difference in emergencies, which is something that can greatly appeal to employers.
The benefits of first aid go beyond treating physical injury. An increasing number of workplaces have mental health first aiders, and they would be very keen to hear from people who have been trained to act as one. In the UK, you can receive this training from the highly respected Mental Health First Aid England, which is supported by the Royal Society for Public Health.
If you are interested in moving into a healthcare career, there are many more specific options that can help you do so. Whether you are looking at dental hygiene or occupational therapy, our list of short healthcare courses could take you forward.
Want to understand more about the different fields of healthcare you could enter? Read our guide to medical specialisations.
Language and communication
Communication is key in the workplace and beyond, so it is always a good time to improve your linguistic skills. This could mean learning a brand new language, or simply working on one you already know. Multilingualism is a much sought skill by employers – especially ones with an international workforce – as well as strong ability with the written and spoken word.
There are courses to cover all of these areas. From professional writing to public speaking, each one could help you along your career journey. Moreover, they can help you understand the world and other people in a much deeper way, both literally and figuratively. It doesn't matter whether you study English, French, a sign language or something else – you will build bridges.
If you are looking to boost your language skills before studying for another qualification, get to know pre-sessional English courses.
Artificial intelligence
The field of AI is emerging at speed, continually changing what is thought to be possible. Throughout your career, you may have to keep adapting alongside it – so why not get a good grounding in it now? Several institutions around the world run short courses in the subject, taking both practical and theoretical approaches.
At the University of Melbourne, for example, you can take several professional development courses on subjects including AI policy and ethics. Similarly, you can study Ethical AI for Good Business at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). This course will develop your critical thinking about the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
If you would prefer to take a more hands-on approach, UTS also runs a number of courses in machine learning, from foundation to advanced level. Diplomas in this subject can also be obtained at institutions elsewhere in the world. Canada's LaSalle College Montréal and Red River College offer ones combined with AI and data science respectively.
Wondering where studying this subject could take you? Discover the jobs you can do with an AI degree.
Driving
Have you ever looked at a job advertisement and been disappointed to see that it requires a driving licence? If so, you will know exactly how one can help your career. In addition to the freedom of the road, it can open up a lot of job opportunities, including ones that do not have driving as a focus.
Even if you can already drive a car, there is still room for you to progress. Advanced driving qualifications are highly regarded by many employers, as they show that you are a truly reliable road user. Plus, you don't have to stop with cars. A number of vehicles require specific licences that far fewer people possess, meaning that you can set yourself apart by getting one. Buses and heavy goods vehicles are just two of the machines that you could master.
We hope you feel motivated by these top courses for professional development. If so, you might want to take our advice on upskilling and reskilling, or explore the in-demand skills that can help kickstart your career. If you would rather look for what you can study, use our search tool below to find vocational courses around the world.
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