Many companies recommend this as a way to be better at what you do!

Interested in obtaining professional qualification training on your own time to advance your career? That’s where companies specialising in providing professional education come in – like Kaplan.

The UK-based company offers top-ranked diverse professional education programmes in finance and accountancy in over 30 countries. It is the only official publisher of CIMA and a Platinum-approved learning partner for ACCA.

In Malaysia, Kaplan offers online training for ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA and AAT through its live online virtual classroom and distance learning courses. “Students can listen to classes delivered by our tutor team in the UK with the chance to ask questions and interact in group discussions in real time. Even if they miss a class, they can catch up with the recording the next day,” explains Tanya Worsley, Kaplan’s Director of International Operations, Global Accountancy, on how the virtual classroom works.

Worsley says that on top of enhancing your career prospects, gaining new knowledge will ensure that you are more up to date and therefore more useful to your firm.

Then there is also the mental aspect where continuous learning has shown to be good for your health and wellbeing.

If you think that signing up for a programme and going through the notions seem cumbersome, think again. Thanks to technology these days, professional education programmes are easily accessible – right at the click of your mouse.

Students can choose how and where they want to study, be it in the classroom or online.

For example, Kaplan’s online courses are available to you wherever you are in the world. All you need to do is log into your virtual class and then interact with other students who come from other parts of the world – imagine the knowledge and cultural exchange that take place right in front of your computer screen.

“Now, the material is mostly online. Students can choose how and where they want to study, be it in the classroom or online, and they are tested on not just knowledge but the application of that knowledge to real-world scenarios in exams that are mostly online and that use similar programmes to those they encounter every day at work,” says Worsley.

Just how cool is it? Imagine this scenario: A student from Malaysia who logs into Kaplan’s live online classroom can expect to be part of a global cohort and can chat, debate and share experiences from different business cultures all over the world.

Students are also encouraged to log onto the Kaplan Knowledge Bank to find the information they need. While in the virtual classroom setting, they can also ask questions to their classmates and tutors, and get instant responses on Whatsapp or forums in the My Kaplan student portal. “Technology has certainly made information more accessible,” says Worsley.

Just remember that even with all the technology available, it still boils down to the individual to make the most of the learning environment.

Says Worsley, “When you’re working, there’s much more of a balance needed. Some social aspect of your life may have to be paused for a while but it’s worth it in the end when you have a globally recognised qualification and some great experience gained along the way.”

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WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER STOP LEARNING
Tanya Worsley gives us her insight.
• When we learn and accomplish new skills, it makes us more content and happier with a feeling of self-worth.
• Learning new skills and acquiring knowledge can build your confidence in your chosen career.
• In your career, you will become more valuable to your firm or industry, which will provide job security and progression.
• As things change so rapidly these days, you will need to keep learning to stay abreast of new developments and to be able to pass this information on to others around you, which can be incredibly satisfying in itself.