How do I choose the right continuing education program?

What are the criteria for choosing the right continuing education course?

Are you looking for a professional program? Whether you're looking for distance or face-to-face training, budget, certifications or even the program on offer, it's hard to make sense of the jungle of organizations! Before you take the plunge, discover the 8 criteria to analyze when choosing your continuing education course.

The continuing education program

First step: identify your professional training needs!

• Why do you want to take this course?
• What skills do you want to learn?
• Is it to improve your expertise or move into a new profession?
• Who is encouraging you to do so? Is it a choice on your part or that of your employer?

Depending on your objectives, make sure that the training you choose will enable you to acquire the skills you need.

Break down the program: educational objectives, blocks, subjects covered and target audience.

Another criterion to evaluate: the institute's network. Will you be able to meet business leaders? Does the institute make it easy to forge links and make contact with professionals? A real plus for the future!

Cost & financing

Of course, payment terms are an essential consideration when choosing your professional program.

• How much does continuing education cost?
• Will there be any additional costs (information material, teaching aids)?
• Do you have the financial resources? Can you be financed?
• Is a deposit required? If so, how much and when?
• Do you qualify for a discount? At the Executive Education, for example, we can offer discounts for HEC Alumni members!

Think about all possible cases: in the event of course cancellation, what solutions are available (compensation, reimbursement, postponement)?

Courses format & terms

Professional training courses can be delivered face-to-face (courses at the institute), by distance learning (e-learning) or a combination of the two (hybrid). Training methods are therefore essential to consider:

• Do you have to take a day off?
• Will you be able to attend classes during working hours?
• What is the most suitable learning pace?
• What kind of pedagogical support is offered, depending on the training format?

It's up to you to discuss this with the organization and your employer!

Duration of the program

Some continuing training courses last just a few hours, while others can be spread over several weeks or even months.

• How much time do you have?
• How can you organize your day-to-day learning?
• Is this the right time? The right pace?
• Will you be able to take on this volume of work in relation to your professional and/or personal constraints?

Also ask about the number of participants and group breakdown. For some continuing education courses, where oral practice is particularly important, it is preferable to have a small group.

The education organization's reputation

This rather subjective criterion can be difficult to analyze. Especially as competition is fierce in the continuing education market! The mistake would be to stop at the website, the organization's true showcase. Here are a few tips to help you see things more clearly:

• Choose a certified organization: this is the case for EDUQUA, EQUIS or AMBA, which are international labels. As a guarantee of quality, these accreditations are your assurance that the training institutes you choose are serious.
• Ask for the organization's references;
• Talk to former participants;
• Analyze reviews on various platforms, including the success rate of former participants.

The best way to ensure the quality of your professional training is to meet the teaching staff and alumni. Don't hesitate to request a discovery call, send us an e-mail or come along to an open house!

The certificate

Once you've chosen a certified organization, check whether or not the institute issues a certificate of completion. If so, check the level of the qualification you're about to obtain.

• Is it a Swiss federal diploma, CAS, MAS or other?
• Is the certification recognized only in Switzerland or abroad?

Also, visit the premises, look at the equipment used, ask about the learning methods: in short, be curious!

The speakers' & teachers' expertise

To avoid disappointment, find out more about the instructors at your future educational program. You'll need to take a close look at the teaching team's qualifications and professionalism.

• Who are they and where do they come from?
• What are their skills and specialties?
• What experience do they have? Their initial training?
• What teaching tools do they use?
• In which establishments have they worked?

Ongoing education provided by professionals brings real added value: they know the field and will help you acquire practical knowledge.

Admission requirements

In all educational organizations, there are prerequisites for enrolling in a professional program. Several criteria may be analyzed by the committee:

• Your professional experience ;
• Your level of motivation;
• Your academic background and qualifications;
• Language skills.

Depending on the course and institute, you'll need at least 3 years of "relevant" professional experience. For others, a university degree or diploma from a specialized school may be required. In all cases, most organizations will require you to attend a selection interview.

Choosing your continuing education is a process that can take time. Don't rush! To help you compare different professional training courses, you can create a document (e.g. Excel file) and list the criteria to be analyzed.

The choice of your professional training course also depends on the feeling you get from your contacts (lecturers, training managers, institute directors, former participants...).