SpinOffs

Ongoing education is a reality for most professionals. The training requirements are usually set by employers or professional associations with the goal of keeping employees and members up to date with the latest technologies, theories, and/or tools available in the industry. Numerous disciplines require Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to maintain certifications, including engineers, educators, nurses, and many others. Increasingly, employers are specifying a professional development goal as part of their employee’s yearly review. Those reviews impact your continued employment, your salary and your career path.

I was a firefighter (we never call ourselves firemen) for more than ten years.  While this was only a part time, volunteer gig, I was a turbomachinery developer and modeler as my full-time job.  Obviously, firefighters use all kinds of turbomachinery and I found it interesting to experience it from the user’s perspective.

Once when asked about his priorities, British Prime Minister Tony Blair replied, “Education, education, education.” We can be sure he was not thinking specifically about courses in mechanical engineering, but his proclamation does highlight the fact that nobody in or out of public life can neglect the need for more or better knowledge.