More adults invest in themselves through continuing education at McMaster

More people are continuing their education at McMaster than ever before, according to the latest enrolment numbers for the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE).

Winter enrolment figures indicate 17 per cent growth over the previous winter term. These are the first enrolment numbers released by CCE showing the effect of the downturn in the economy during the fall term. That follows increases of about 14 per cent in the 2008 spring and fall terms. This rate of growth is unprecedented in the 78 year history of continuing education at McMaster.

While the staff at CCE anticipated that enrolment would grow as area workers looked to enhance their skills in a troubled economy, they were surprised to learn this trend was not reflected across the country. Annual reports submitted to the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education suggest that only one other institution reported significant enrolment growth during the past year. That institution did not report the enrolment spike that McMaster experienced in January.

While many adults return to school to support a career change, in their 2006 study for Statistics Canada, Xuelin Zhang and Boris Palameta noted that adults who earned a post-secondary certificate while remaining with their current employers saw their earnings and wages increase significantly. This was true for adult learners of all age and gender categories.

“These numbers suggest that employers place a high value on retaining and compensating employees who are committed to making a meaningful investment in their own knowledge and skills,” says Tracey Taylor-O'Reilly, director of CCE. “In an economic downturn, that is even more important.”

CCE is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of adult learners. “Our students are busy people. Most are balancing work and family responsibilities in addition to their professional development goals,” says Lisa Boniface, assistant director of CCE. A committed lifelong learner, Boniface recently completed a degree in adult education.

“Everything we do – from scheduling classes outside of traditional working hours, to offering distance education options, to incorporating student feedback in our planning processes – comes from an understanding that adult learners want to have a say in designing their learning process,” says Boniface.

McMaster's commitment to lifelong learning is demonstrated through its employee tuition assistance program. McMaster employees are eligible for tuition assistance for certificate and diploma studies through the Centre for Continuing Education. Some restrictions apply.

Spring classes begin May 2. Please visit www.mcmastercce.com to register.