Why Higher Education Matters to Women

Higher education matters to a woman in today’s world as she aspires to be a leader, a changemaker, and work her way up in new occupations.

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” – Brigham Young

The saying holds true to the fact that if you educate a woman, she can light up many lives that are associated with her while she dons many hats. On this International Women’s Day, let’s explore some facts about higher education for women throughout history and what the scenario is today. We will also delve into the benefits of women obtaining tertiary education (Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage, or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education) and why it is important for them. 

Percentage of Women Graduates Has Been Rising 

Women have come a long way from the early 90s when they weren’t allowed to enroll in colleges across many countries. Today women are outnumbering men in graduating with a post-secondary degree in the majority of the countries. 

The trend has been seen across the U.S. too. By the academic year of 2016-17, it was noted that women earned 57 per cent of bachelor’s degrees awarded in the U.S. By 2019, history was made when women formed a majority of the college-educated workforce in the U.S. for the first time. 

Women in Canada have been increasingly turning toward obtaining tertiary education. Data by Statistics Canada shows that since the early 1990s, the majority (56 per cent) of students who enrolled in Canada’s public colleges and universities in 2013-14 were women. In 2020, about 1.2 million women were enrolled in various post-secondary Canadian institutions. 

When compared to men, approximately 951,500 men enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Canada in the same year. According to statistics, in 2020, 73 per cent of 25-34-year-old women got a tertiary qualification as compared to 56 per cent of their male counterparts. These insights reveal that more women in the age group of 25-34 years took up postsecondary education.

More Young Women Pursued Higher Education During The Pandemic  

Another report from Statistics Canada shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic, more young women came forward to explore higher education avenues. 53 per cent of women aged 17-19 years attended post-secondary institutions at the beginning of 2020/21, up from 48 per cent last year. While 50 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 years went to post-secondary institutions, up from 46 per cent last year. “Meanwhile, there were no significant changes among young men for any age category,” mentions the StatsCan report.

Women can be the torchbearers when it comes to education in the family. Sometimes due to lack of opportunities, they don’t think of pursuing higher education. But going back to school can be an important turning point in their life. 

What Are The Personal Benefits For Women From Higher Education?

‍Here are some personal benefits that women witness when they decide to return to school for higher education: 

1. Enhanced self-image and improved self-esteem
2. More personally content 
3. Exposure to better career opportunities 
4. Gain respect 
5. New purpose and goals for life 
6. Focus on self-improvement and growth

These benefits are considerable for women who wish to pursue tertiary education. Besides these, higher education can prove to be a way out for facilitating women to discover their actual potential, gain new skills, and move forward to closing the gender pay gap.

Why Should Women Pursue Higher Education? 

Not only do women get to achieve their personal goals with higher education, but they also gain trust in themselves to lead a better life. Here are five reasons why you, as a woman, should pursue higher education: 

Acquire Industry-ready Skills

‍As you think of getting higher education, there may be some crucial skills that you need to be job-ready. The things that you are taught in professional courses get you hands-on training and you learn industry-relevant skills. You attain leadership skills that help you carve out your path to advance your career, and move ahead in life. 

Fulfill Industry Demand

‍The job market is quite diverse and it seeks more women to work on all fronts. By pursuing higher education you can fit well into this growing demand. You gain specific skills and knowledge while you study in colleges and universities that help you drive your career. 

Career Advancement

‍Post-secondary courses offer knowledge that is useful in varied fields. You can pick and choose a program that is right for you and enroll yourself in a college. The skills you gain make you ready to work in different industries and explore possible job opportunities. 

Better Employment Options

‍You can explore employment opportunities in a variety of areas. There is no limit to options that you can search and apply for jobs at entry-level, mid-senior level, and finally superior levels. Holding a postsecondary degree or diploma can make you eligible for more job opportunities, and that can work well toward achieving your career goals. 

Enhanced Earnings

‍Once you obtain a tertiary education certificate, you are entitled to earn more salary as you work your way up. It takes time to climb up the success ladder but higher education does play an important role in improving your earnings over the years. It multiplies your earning potential many times. 

Wondering How To Search For The Right School For Your Higher Education? 

If you have decided to opt for higher education and are searching for where to start, then the following tips can help you look for the right school: 

Ask Yourself Questions: Ask yourself about what do you want to pursue as a long-term career? What motivates you and what are you passionate about? Try to do some soul searching as to what interests you. These questions can help you choose a field that you’d like to gain more professional knowledge in. 

Research Well: Research in detail as to what courses are available in the field of your interest and what schools offer those programs. Learn about the options, then make an informed decision on the course offerings, teaching styles, and schedules that suit you.

Visit School Campus: Once you have shortlisted some schools, plan a visit to the campus to check out the environment, learn more about the instructors, see the facilities, and interact with other students. This can give you a new perspective about the school that you want to study in. 

Take Guidance/Finalize The School: You can also take guidance from your peers who have already studied that course. Read reviews about the college and courses it offers on social media and other authentic platforms. It will help you to finalize the school that you’d like to go to for your higher education. 

Conclusion

To conclude, higher education for women is essential now as they aspire for a better career, an improved lifestyle, and adopt new pursuits. If you want to achieve your dreams, higher education is the way to go.  

ABM College helps its students attain industry-relevant skills and get job-ready through its innovative technology, healthcare, and business programs that help you advance your career. It encourages diversity in classrooms and supports women students equally.

Looking for the best school for your higher education? 

Contact us now!