It’s said that change is constant, and one of the most effective ways of dealing with change is with lifelong learning. In order to acquire new skills and knowledge, continuous learning is believed to be the key that will help expand your skill set and develop future opportunities. This also forms part of your personal and professional development in an effort to avoid stagnation and reach your full potential in life. Mazen Halawyi, a business person owning a retail shop and restaurant in Kibagabaga says as long as we exist, there will be need to learn not only new things but also add knowledge to what we already have, which is life-long learning. He says this is an important tool for every career and organization, given that the world we are living in is competitive. Importance Halawyi says when you are not eager to acquire new skills, there is a high possibility that you will remain stagnant in your career, and even in your life as well. “To be able to catch up with this digital world, it’s paramount that you remain relevant to your career by keeping up to date with new things and also adapting your skill set,” he says. To remain valuable, the entrepreneur says there is need to learn new things which are all about continuous learning, this helps you upgrade your life, and also helps in adjusting to new changes. Kelly Waterston, a resident of Kigali working in the tourism and hospitality industry says lifelong learning will ensure you adapt to unexpected changes. She gives an example where one loses their job, when you have new skills, it won’t take you much time to find what to do with what you have. Kelly, who is also an entrepreneur says when you’re always learning, there is no doubt that you will keep improving and growing in your career, something that will strengthen your network. “It is normal and very common for one to change jobs now and then, and when you have new skills, it will be easier to adapt to the changes than those with one skill,” she says. In addition, she says that continuous learning gives you a feeling of accomplishment, which in turn boosts your confidence in your own capabilities, thus being ready to take up challenging tasks or roles. Faustin Mutabazi, an entrepreneur says when you keep on learning in your life, it helps you acquire new skills which will unveil new opportunities and help you find innovative solutions to problems. He says that continuous learning also opens your mind and changes your attitude by building on what you already know. “The more you learn, the better you’ll get at seeing more sides of the same situation, helping you understand more deeply,” he says. Continuous or lifelong learning Mutabazi says, also helps develop your leadership skills which then translate into fostering lifelong learning in other individuals, by encouraging them to pursue further education. In organisations, Kelly says there is a need for managers to provide access to lifelong learning opportunities and encourage continued learning among employees. This can be done by encouraging employees to participate in continuous learning, as well as creating a supportive learning environment, which can be achieved by showing employees that the organisation is investing effort and resources into continuous learning.
