Further training: Which criteria should a provider meet?

Further training: Which criteria should a provider meet?

The range of seminars and training courses is immense; it is easy to lose track. In addition, profit is made from necessity: dubious providers promise education, but then reduce it to high costs without added value. How can you recognize reliable and reputable providers if not all providers are the same? This article provides answers and important points of criticism along the way.

First step: select the appropriate further training

In which area should the training take place? When it comes to soft skills, time management and personal growth, providers such as official distance schools are suitable. In addition to further training in the field of personality, these also offer language courses and school certificates. Even IHK-certified courses are mostly in the repertoire as well as certificates for further training in advisory areas, eg nutritionists or rhetoric. Such courses are ideal for strengthening your own core competence and for scoring points in the next discussion about a possible promotion.

If you want to study part-time, there are two options:

1. The State Distance University

In Germany there is a state distance learning university which, in addition to law and economics, also offers cultural and social sciences and psychology as well as mathematics and computer science. Because the university is treated like a state school despite the asynchronous course, the costs are a lot lower than from private providers

• private distance learning universities and distance learning colleges

Several private distance learning universities and distance learning colleges offer a colorful potpourri of courses. With the exception of medical fields, almost everything can be found and studied here. The first four weeks are usually free of charge, after which monthly costs of €200 – €600 should be taken into account. The costs vary greatly depending on the provider. It is not unimportant that special requirements often have to be met in order to start the course, eg professional experience or previous training.

Seminars and direct vocational training are often partially or completely financed by the employer. This can be workshops and symposiums, seminars lasting several days or further training lasting a few hours. Depending on the profession, there are also several portals that offer further training. These usually take place in attendance and on site. Your own employer or relevant portals of the respective industries can provide the necessary information. A new provider on the seminar market should always be checked for certain criteria. Important aspects are practicality and transparency.

What should be considered when choosing a provider?

The selection of a suitable further training and the cooperation with a provider should therefore be subject to a few points of criticism.

A small checklist for support:

1. The purpose or: where do I want to go?
2. What is the purpose of the training?

The exact purpose of the training should be known before blindly clicking on an offer.

• Am I just interested in a topic?

Further training can be considered not only for your own career, but also for expanding your personal horizon. Language or writing courses or more knowledge of historical facts are very popular and are already considered a hobby.

• Do I want to boost my career with it?

If the further training is to have a direct impact on work, it is advisable to speak to the supervisor before the course begins. A feedback discussion shows strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, further training can be selected in a targeted manner.

• Should the training make me more confident and sociable?

If a new project is pending or if you would like to get involved in conflict management, further training in the areas of personality and soft skills are suitable. They can also help if you feel insecure in the team or would like to get more involved in other ways.

• The provider or: Who do I pay so much?
• Does the provider give his data in the imprint?

An imprint is mandatory. If there is none, it is simply not a reputable provider. Point.

• Does the provider allow monthly installment payments?

Experienced providers know that education is a cost-intensive good, but also that participants cannot pay amounts in the four-digit range directly. If the total price is less than one thousand euros, a one-off payment can also be made with certified and reputable providers. However, many private schools and institutions offer the option of paying in installments.

• Are there certain prerequisites or can anyone take any course?

A high school diploma is required to study (there are exceptions), certain training courses require specialist knowledge before beginning. The same is true of continuing education. There are certainly courses that participants can complete without any prerequisites. Nevertheless, the majority of specific further training is aimed at a specific clientele. Providers who offer all courses without prerequisites always require a closer look.

• Can teaching content be viewed before purchase?

A syllabus or rough content should be available before purchasing the training. After all, you want to know in advance what you are paying for. If there is no information about the content even when asked, it is probably not a reputable provider.

• How is the provider rated on rating portals?
  → Pay particular attention to the negative reviews

Positive reviews are often bought these days, it’s no secret. Therefore, when researching, it is important to pay attention to the negative experiences in rating portals.

• Does the provider have certifications such as TÜV, ZFU, ISO or test results from newspapers?

In order to receive a valid certificate, the provider must be able to offer certified further training. The state central office for distance learning (ZFU) is the right contact and can tell you whether a provider is approved or not. If a provider is approved, the certification can also be found on the website.

Conclusion: further education yes, but right

Although there are black sheep among the providers, some distance schools, universities and other distance institutions have survived for several years. If you are interested in such educational offers, you should carry out a thorough check of the providers and ultimately make a well-founded decision.