Understanding the difference between the two, and why it matters to the value you get from a course.
These two words are often used to mean the same thing, yet there are key differences.
As an organisation widely seen as belonging to the "IT training industry", it is important that we at SYSOP understand the difference between Education and Training.
By understanding this and optimising our services accordingly, we are able to better serve our clients. So what is the difference?
In the IT Service Management space we have plenty of best practice guidance, and there are recognised qualifications an ITSM professional can pursue to develop their understanding of it. When you ask what the objectives are in attending a course, an individual will often name "passing the exam" as being of most importance to them.
From an individual's point of view that may be true. Adding a globally recognised qualification to your CV is valuable career progression. The goal of passing an exam does lend itself to an educational approach: one where the course content is structured around a defined syllabus on which the examination is based.
What about the knowledge gained from the course that lets an individual go back to the workplace and do their job better? Often it is the employer who pays for someone to attend a course, in both the course cost and the time away from work. From an employer’s perspective, the ability to apply that knowledge in the workplace can be just as important as the qualification itself.
A training-led approach therefore gives greater emphasis to developing practical skills that can be applied in the workplace.
At SYSOP, we make a clear distinction between education and training. We offer "Education" qualifications, the syllabus-led courses that culminate in an examination. During these courses we take a training approach wherever we can, using experienced practising consultants who apply real-world examples to build on the theory and enhance the knowledge gained, without deviating from exam preparation.
Our accredited courses combine recognised qualifications with practical insight, while our practical workshops, motivational business simulations or consultancy services allow us to focus more directly on an organisation’s particular challenges. Because these services are not structured around an examination syllabus, we can adapt the content, format and approach to the organisation’s circumstances and intended outcomes.
We think of Education as learning the theory, and Training as developing skills and experience.
Both are relevant, but with training budgets under increasing pressure, a stronger emphasis on practical application can help organisations achieve greater value from their investment.
