As an expat, the one thing which may pose a problem depending on the country you’ve moved to, is getting a top education or continuing a learning programme. Being an expat, it’s often imperative to prove yourself by updating your skills and keeping up with the latest developments in the industry. In such instances, distance education provided via Canadian institutes (link to www.alis.gov.ab.ca/ec/ep/esp/distance.html)  can offer a practical solution. In addition to overcoming language barrier hurdles, distance courses can offer you specialized instruction in real time - a very workable approach for many a busy expat careerist. As a student who may return to his/her home country, studying via a Canadian university can offer you credits toward your final degree.While the exact numbers of those studying via distance education is unavailable, with the onset of the internet in most everyone’s home, online education is more popular than ever. Getting a degree via distance education no longer carries the stigma it used to -  in fact, more employers are recognizing the flexibility and ease at which studying can be brought to their employees’ doorstep, and encouraging it via flexible work hours, study time, and even payment of tuition fees.If you have decided to go ahead with this option, Canada offers a number of distance education options at both grad school and university levels. In addition, there are a great many certificate and diploma courses to select from. Take Canadian Virtual University (link to www.cvu-uvc.ca/english.html ) for instance: this site offers students 300 degrees, diplomas and certifications from 2,000 courses offered by accredited Canadian Universities. Signing up to these courses is often as easy as clicking the link and filling an online form. Most institutes will also offer you a self-assessment quiz to see if distance education is right for you. A sample quiz may look something like this: www.quintcareers.com/distance_learning_assessment.htmlWhen making a choice, there are a few questions which need to be answered:

• Will undertaking this course help you in your career?
• Is the course accredited to a Canadian University, and will it be recognized in the country you currently reside in?
• Do you have the time and finances to make a long-term commitment?
• Do you have the necessary equipment and tools to support you in your studies, or would that be a further investment?

The pros of undertaking a distance education course are quite simple. You will gain flexibility and freedom to undertake a course of your choice in the comfort of your home. In addition online courses include:

Easy application methods: In certain instances you may need to prove your credentials , but most schools have a simple online application process after which you can begin almost immediately.

Flexible delivery methods: While most of the coursework is delivered online or mailed out to you, your response is equally flexible, and you usually have the option of delivering assignments online. Perfect if you have a schedule to work around. It also saves on commute time and cost.

Accessibility to all: It doesn’t matter your age or physical capabilities -  if you can study you can undertake a distance education course. The courses which are accredited to recognized colleges and universities have the additional advantage of providing you with a degree which holds up to scrutiny, all the more important in today’s ‘fake degree’ market.

One-to-one instruction: Students usually have the option of communicating with their tutors via phone or email, thus enabling them to receive uninterrupted study time as and when they need it.

Access to updated knowledge: Because online courses unlike traditional courses are easily updated, they allow you to keep up with the latest technological happenings around the world. This is all the more important when undergoing technical courses, medical studies, business applications etc.

Financial benefits: In addition to the financially viable costs associated with distance education programmes, it may be possible to receive student loads and financial aid via the institute itself. Other benefits include possible tax credits and employer facilitated payment structures. No campus fees and meal plans make this further affordable.

Having said this, there are some drawbacks to learning outside a standard classroom, and these include having to make time independently to build a study plan, lack of face to face time with an instructor, no or limited social interaction to look forward to, the need for a fully set-up office and learning center, and the fact that sometimes, an online degree is not valued in the work place.

Taking into consideration all the pros and cons should give you an answer as to whether distance education is the right choice for you. If you do decide to go ahead with it, always ensure the course and institute is officially recognized and will provide you the exact education you’re looking to pursue.

 

The Canadian Expat Association Tip: Popular Canadian distance education courses include business management, security, computer sciences, communications, real estate, and health care. In certain instances, these programmes run for up to four years, and the cost can be fairly substantial. Are you ready to commit to this timeframe? If not, a diploma or certification course may be better suited to your current needs.

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Categories: Expat Life, Education, Other Articles
Tags: Canadian Education, Canadian Expat, Distance Education, features