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Friday 14 July 2023

The difference between education, training and development

So, what is the difference between education, training and development? Let's start by defining each of the terms, education, training and development; and showing the differences between the three. "In the context of [HRD, it is] necessary to define and delineate" the following terms (often used as synonyms): "'training’, ‘education’, [and] ‘development’", "in order to clarify the associated activities and desired outcomes within an organisation" (Masadeh, 2012, p. 62).

  1. Education has been defined as "formal educational commitments and experiences, [...] encompass[ing] a wider scope", or "learning by thinking’" (p. 65); or "broadly defined as a more general, less specialized or hands-on approach to enhancing knowledge" (p. 64). Education relates to "the general development of knowledge, moral values and understanding required in all walks of life" (Dearden, 1984, pp. 57-58). So: education is learning that is longer term, broader, more theory-based, more thinking-oriented.

  2. Training can be defined as "a learning activity that is designed for immediate impact, for the job or role that one does at present", and is "associated with ‘learning by doing’" (Masadeh, 2012, p. 65). It is related to specific skills, attitude or behaviour "to achieve effective performance in any activity or range of activities" (p. 63). The implication is that training is about vocational tasks (Dearden, 1984). So: training is shorter-term, specific, more hands-on, more doing-oriented learning.

  3. Development is defined as "a learning activity that is designed for future impact, for a role or job one will do in the future" but one that is "the resulting outcome of [training]" (Masadeh, 2012, p. 65). The implication is that, by being related to training, the development outcome is quite specific to the organisation. So: development is the outcomes or results of the organisational hands-on training which has been delivered.

If we use the terms as they are supposed to be used, I think it makes it much clearer what we are supposed to be delivering, and therefore much clearer what the results are likely to be. And - for that matter - just what the pay-off might be.


Sam

References:

Dearden, R. (1984). Education and training. Westminster Studies in Education, 7(1), 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/0140672840070104

Masadeh, M. (2012). Training, education, development and learning: what is the difference?. European Scientific Journal, 8(10), 62-68. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/236411025.pdf

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