Work Place Learning And Human Capital

Learning in the workplace is somehow different and based on a specific framework compared to other types of learning, especially learning in schools or other educational institutions.

Learning in schools may be formally structured and of course, learners learn the same thing in schools. However workplace learning can be structured or informal.

Workplace Learning can be regarded as learning which takes place from or at work. It's the learning which is confined in the working space. Learning that takes place in the workplace is always geared towards the attachment of organizational goals and objectives, workplace learning to some extent helps to maximize profits especially if it's a profit driven company. So, the essence is that people engage in workplace learning to acquire new skills, knowledge and qualities which they need to perform better on the job.

Human Capital on the other hand is all about the skills, experience, knowledge, and qualities embedded in individuals that helps in the production of goods and services. Human capital are germane as part of the company's assets which are needed to produce goods and services. Human capital is embedded in people or employees and can be improved for more productivity.

Workplace learning can occur either in a formal, informal or nonformal way. Workplace learning can occur in a formal way when the learning is structured, goal oriented and in a formal way. The formal mode of workplace learning may take the form of mentoring and coaching that occurs in workplace. Management of organizations can provide workplace learning by providing mentorship sessions for workers; this will help in improving the skills needed to perform their jobs more effectively and efficiently.

Learning that occurs in the workplace can also takes the form of Continuing Professional Even(CPE). This is a type of formal education that provides opportunity for workers who want to improve professionally on their place of work. CPE will help individuals in their respective careers thus improving human capital.

What about the informal ways through which workplace learning can occur? It can occur through learning by observation, trial and error learning. Etc. Sometimes people learn new things by just observing it, of course it can be planned or spontaneous. However learning by observation is a good form of learning within the workplace.

Non formal way of learning within the workplace may include self directed learning of workers which is usually done in a nonformal way, such as knowledge gained from learning which is usually structured in a nonformal way; may include evening classes.

The link between workplace learning and human capital is that the workplace learning is an investment for human capital. Human capital is best improved by learning which occurs in the workplace. People can build their human capital by embracing workplace learning. It is quite possible how learning in the workplace affects generally the working life of adults; because people spend most of their lifetime in their place of works which puts workplace learning on a vantage position.

Several workplace learning which improves human capital may include trainings (on-the-job training), coaching and mentoring, job rotation which means changing the job roles of an employee within the organization but in a lateral way. It also includes all forms of learning activities either teacher centred or self directed undertaken by employees in the working environment.