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Career survival requires continuous learning

19 January 2023 | Story Gerda-Marié van Rooyen | Photo Unsplash

While prospective students are looking forward to starting their tertiary education, a few older, more experienced graduates who have been capped at the December 2022 graduation ceremonies, prove that you are never too old to get an extra qualification.

In the words of the legendary entrepreneur and industrial designer, Steve Jobs: "There is always one more thing to learn." Cherene Pienaar (age 38), a journalist and second-year master’s degree student in Creative Writing at the University of the Free State (UFS), agrees: “I want to make the most of my time on earth and grow personally.”

Success depends on continuous learning

“Upskilling and re-skilling through continuous learning is no longer a luxury. It is a survival strategy,” says Belinda Janeke, Head of Career Services in the Division of Student Affairs. She says contexts of traditional vocations are changing with the inclusion of technology. “Apart from staying relevant, the biological and psychological benefits of learning are also scientifically backed; an active mind is good for you.”

Shirly Hyland, Director of the Kovsie Phahamisa Academy (KPHA) for Short Learning Programmes (SLP), says lifelong learning builds skills and knowledge and enhances the social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development of individuals. "Even if SLPs may not necessarily lead to a formal Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) qualification, it places lifelong learners at a competitive edge for employability. Persons who engage in lifelong learning are at the forefront of their profession and remain competitive.”

Staying and being relevant

Participants enrolling for an SLP can rest assured, knowing that course material is fresh and relevant, as the KPHA embarks on a desktop study to determine the relevance, marketability, and competitiveness before a suggested SLP gets approved. Hyland says the UFS offers SLPs that are purposeful and in time for the needs of the relevant profession, industry, or society. Programmes are offered at affordable prices and encompass the top academic expertise at the UFS. “Every SLP gets created for professional development, professionals wishing to re-skill themselves to remain current and competitive, or young adults who wish to upskill themselves to become (more) employable.”

Different options available

Hyland explains that lifelong learning can take on different formats, allowing innovation in content, design, offering, and delivery. "The traditional classroom is no longer the foundation of learning. SLPs allow people from all walks of life access to part-time, relevant, flexible, and affordable education.”

Advantages of studying later in life

Janeke says older students may be more motivated and focused than 18-year-olds. “Most 18-year-olds experience vocation uncertainty. The pressure to pick a degree can cause them to study what others prefer, only to realise where their true passion lies later in life.” In contrast, older students bring experience, wisdom, and understanding to a programme. “They have often seen theory play out in practice and have a better view of abstract concepts and ideas. Due to their experience, they excel in a programme application or practical components.”

The UFS Career Services is like a finishing school for career readiness and offers a self-paced programme that covers self-knowledge and career exploration. “During the programme, students do an in-depth career exploration to ensure that their skills, values, and interests align with market offerings. A gap analysis helps them to obtain the skills they need, and a deep dive into career possibilities reveals different opportunities instead of being stuck on a one-track approach.” Janeke says their workshops and events focus on employability and connecting students with potential employers. “We have found that students need more than a qualification to contribute to the workspace. We aim to ensure that they will become employees of choice.”

What it takes

Hyland advises participants to be committed to the programme in order to be successful in any SLP. “Participants should ensure the SLP adds value to their lives – professionally and/or personally.” Other tips include reading documentation thoroughly, sticking to timelines provided, and keeping communication lines open with the programme owner when troubles arise.

Although financial constraints or family responsibilities may prevent (further) studies initially, these challenges can be overcome. “Once these barriers are removed, people may pursue their career dreams. Furthering one's studies will provide more than knowledge and skills.” Janeke advises prospective students to set aside a place and time for studies, create a support network and accountability group, and develop healthy habits. “If your studies are self-funded, budget your study and household costs – and pick your programme wisely.”

Pienaar says getting an extra degree is possible despite having a full-time job, but it is probably more challenging when you have a family. “To pass on postgraduate level is still a job well done.”

Career Services can be contacted at career@ufs.ac.za .

For more information regarding short learning programmes, visit www.ufs.ac.za/kpa.

News Archive

Fight against Ebola virus requires more research

2014-10-22

Dr Abdon Atangana
Photo: Ifa Tshishonge

Dr Abdon Atangana, a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute for Groundwater Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS), wrote an article related to the Ebola virus: Modelling the Ebola haemorrhagic fever with the beta-derivative: Deathly infection disease in West African countries.

“The filoviruses belong to a virus family named filoviridae. This virus can cause unembellished haemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman monkeys. In literature, only two members of this virus family have been mentioned, namely the Marburg virus and the Ebola virus. However, so far only five species of the Ebola virus have been identified, including: Ivory Coast, Sudan, Zaire, Reston and Bundibugyo.

“Among these families, the Ebola virus is the only member of the Zaire Ebola virus species and also the most dangerous, being responsible for the largest number of outbreaks.

“Ebola is an unusual, but fatal virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body. As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, it causes the blood-clotting levels in cells to drop. This leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding.

Since all physical problems can be modelled via mathematical equation, Dr Atangana aimed in his research (the paper was published in BioMed Research International with impact factor 2.701) to analyse the spread of this deadly disease using mathematical equations. We shall propose a model underpinning the spread of this disease in a given Sub-Saharan African country,” he said.

The mathematical equations are used to predict the future behaviour of the disease, especially the spread of the disease among the targeted population. These mathematical equations are called differential equation and are only using the concept of rate of change over time.

However, there is several definitions for derivative, and the choice of the derivative used for such a model is very important, because the more accurate the model, the better results will be obtained. The classical derivative describes the change of rate, but it is an approximation of the real velocity of the object under study. The beta derivative is the modification of the classical derivative that takes into account the time scale and also has a new parameter that can be considered as the fractional order.

“I have used the beta derivative to model the spread of the fatal disease called Ebola, which has killed many people in the West African countries, including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, since December 2013,” he said.

The constructed mathematical equations were called Atangana’s Beta Ebola System of Equations (ABESE). “We did the investigation of the stable endemic points and presented the Eigen-Values using the Jacobian method. The homotopy decomposition method was used to solve the resulted system of equations. The convergence of the method was presented and some numerical simulations were done for different values of beta.

“The simulations showed that our model is more realistic for all betas less than 0.5. The model revealed that, if there were no recovery precaution for a given population in a West African country, the entire population of that country would all die in a very short period of time, even if the total number of the infected population is very small. In simple terms, the prediction revealed a fast spread of the virus among the targeted population. These results can be used to educate and inform people about the rapid spread of the deadly disease,” he said.

The spread of Ebola among people only occurs through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person after symptoms have developed. Body fluid that may contain the Ebola virus includes saliva, mucus, vomit, faeces, sweat, tears, breast milk, urine and semen. Entry points include the nose, mouth, eyes, open wounds, cuts and abrasions. Note should be taken that contact with objects contaminated by the virus, particularly needles and syringes, may also transmit the infection.

“Based on the predictions in this paper, we are calling on more research regarding this disease; in particular, we are calling on researchers to pay attention to finding an efficient cure or more effective prevention, to reduce the risk of contamination,” Dr Atangana said.

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