Despite having already finished their studies and being certified, engineers, consultants, and other professionals working in related fields are required to undergo constant learning and training through the use of professional training courses. The training is very common in many industries and sectors, and some of them will even require you to undergo training after a specific period of time. In other cases, you must first undergo training before receiving a promotion. But what is the importance of the training?
- Improve performance
One of the reasons why engineers and consultants are constantly being trained is to ensure they attain the highest level of skills required in order to ensure that they are operating at optimal performance. This helps to ensure all tasks are being performed efficiently, thus increasing productivity.
- Guarantee safety
Engineers and consultants operate in very sensitive areas, where safety is paramount in order to avoid fatal failures or accidents, for example, the operation of power systems, the operation of high-pressure equipment, in the manufacturing process using heavy machinery, etc. Therefore, professionals working in these areas must undergo adequate training and learning in order to ensure that they have the necessary skills to operate the equipment they work with. This helps to guarantee the safety of the equipment and mitigate the risks of fatal failures or accidents occurring.
- Provide professionals with additional knowledge
With the ever-evolving technology, engineers and consultants find themselves dealing with new equipment or improved way of doing things. In addition, many principles in engineering keep on changing, thus requiring them to undergo additional training to refresh their knowledge. Professional training courses designed for engineers and professionals are also very important in ensuring that they are up to date with industry standards and statutory requirements.
- Career development
Training and learning solutions are also very important for professionals who are looking to increase their knowledge in order to progress their careers. As already said above, professional training is required in some areas in order to receive a promotion, for example, in plant inspector jobs, you must receive additional training in order to move from one level of plant inspector to another.
The best training solution for engineers and consultants
Companies that wish to train their employees can use a number of training solutions in order to provide them with the necessary skills. Below is a look at some of the most common training solutions, highlighted by some of the leading experts in the engineering industy – that are used in the professional training of engineers and consultants.
- Instructor-led training
Instructor-led training is the oldest and still one of the most popular training and learning solution for engineers and consultants. It is mainly employed with professional training and certification courses where educational material is presented to the trainees by an instructor in a classroom. Various techniques such as PowerPoint presentations, use of instructor notes, the use of books (or other instructional documents), use of instructional videos, and many others are used.
Instructor-led training can be in-house, where one organisation hires an instructor to come and train some (or all) employees of a company. However, the training can also be offered by an institution, where all professionals wishing to undergo training attend. In the UK, this is one of the most popular training solutions used to train engineers and consultants. A good example is the professional training courses that are offered by Edif Group.
- Online learning
Online learning is another learning solution that is used in the training of engineers and consultants. In online learning, also referred to as e-learning, the training occurs in a virtual class through the use of instructional videos, text-based learning resources, or live with an instructor. This method of training has increased in popularity over the past few years due to technological advancements and the increased accessibility of the Internet. Many companies and organisations are now turning to online learning, where their employees can learn from anywhere in the world without having to physically attend a classroom. Online training is preferred due to its low costs and convenience (you can learn from anywhere).
- Learning through mobile applications
Mobile learning is an emerging trend when it comes to the training of professionals. Despite being new, mobile learning (mlearning) is gaining a lot of popularity, which is as a result of the increased availability of mobile devices and easier access to internet connectivity. Mobile learning is also more effective than e-learning, as the professionals being trained can be able to acquire the training resources in easily accessible forms, even when they are moving. It is also more cost effective than most other types of learning solutions, as the professionals being trained can use their own mobile devices to access the learning resources.
- Bespoke e-learning solutions
Bespoke learning is another type of online learning that can be used to train engineers and consultants. However, unlike in the traditional online learning where ready-made courses (also known as off-the-shelf courses) are used, bespoke learning involves the use of custom-designed courses that are only suited for the specific professionals undertaking training. An example of bespoke learning includes scenario based learning where the trainees learn using character simulations or learning exercises. Bespoke learning is mainly used in situations where the employees are required to gain urgent knowledge about a specific project/situation that will only last for a short period.
- Learning using simulations
The use of simulation is another learning solution that can be used to train engineers and consultants. It is one of the most effective forms of training, as the trainees are immersed in a lifelike learning situation where they learn using models or simulations of the real life equipment, for example, flight simulators that are used to train pilots. The greatest advantage if simulated learning is that it allows the trainees to acquire the necessary skills without the risk of causing any accidents with the real life equipment.
Summary
Engineers and consultants operate in areas where they deal with sensitive equipment that lead to fatal failures or accidents in case they are not operated in the right way. As a result, these professionals must receive the right training before being allowed to operate the equipment. Additional training is also required to ensure that they are always up to date with the latest industry practices, thus ensuring the safety of the equipment. The training can be received from certified institutions such as Edif Group, which specialises in, among other things, providing providing professional training courses for engineers and consultants.
