Education vs Training vs Development. What Is the Difference?

Education, training, and development are often used interchangeably. But what exactly do they mean? And why is it important to know the difference between the three?

To help clear the confusion about what each term signifies, we asked experts to discuss the difference between education, training, and development.

Here are their insights:

Tina Gates

Tina Gates

Vice President of Learning and Development, Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care

Development, education, and training are the concepts that may seem synonymous. Still, they are as different as the arts and sciences—yet work together in tandem to develop a curious mind.

Development is an abstract art

Development is an abstract art—it is the nature of watching a skill or person grow over time. It is a continual improvement toward an overarching goal that can be more informal and is observed relationally over time (Example: a mentor observing a mentee).

Education is a science

If development is an art, education is a science. Education is the standardized practice of attaining a piece of knowledge or skill that will follow you throughout your life.

In education, there are facts in figures. There is a conceptual understanding that everyone should be able to reach when successfully trained.

Training is a vessel by which education is achieved

On the other hand, training is a vessel by which education is achieved. Training is meant to teach knowledge, skill, or attitude (KSA) that can be immediately understood and implemented.

Development is more informal and abstract to track

Assessment is the significant difference between training and development. You can assess learning through training immediately (through examination, such as a quiz). Development is more informal and abstract to track (such as mentor observing mentee).

The purpose of training is to have facts and figures that prove different outcomes because of the learning that happens in training.

Our academy aims to equip our franchisees (at nearly 300 locations around the country) to develop as impactful entrepreneurs in the educational child care industry through training, education, and development.

A team of operations, marketing, and education experts works with the franchisee to get to know them, their families, their professional backgrounds, and their goals.

We work with franchisees to provide regular training opportunities (pre-opening, regional, and at our annual conference). But we also help them develop and refine skillsets specific to their entrepreneurial goals in an ever-evolving one-on-one setting.

We also have the unique vantage point of impacting the education and development of young children in our classrooms. There are tangible benefits of a curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten, but more so in developing good character.

In an early childhood classroom, it’s easy to imagine the education opportunities we provide. But surprisingly, there is no lack of development opportunities.

You can familiarize a child with a skill (for example, sharing, working through conflicts with friends, etc.) through education and training, but how you approach the application of that skill relies upon development.

Development is contingent upon the teacher knowing the child

Development is contingent upon the teacher knowing the child and investing in their personal growth with one-on-one support and connection. Thus, genuinely successful development correlates with relational investment.

Training, development, and education are necessary throughout career and personal growth from grade school.

To be a lifelong learner is to pursue development constantly, and training and education are two practical tools by which we develop.

Eliana Levine

Eliana Levine

Co-founder, FindPeopleEasy

Training is the process of improving an employee’s knowledge and abilities for them to do a specific job.

Development is thought to be more general than training and more targeted to human requirements and organizational needs, and it is typically aimed at management personnel.

Education is the process of expanding a company’s workers’ general knowledge and comprehension.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world

According to Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” He says this because education is the key to gaining the knowledge, critical analysis, confidence, and skills necessary to improve the world.

Education is the process of acquiring and interpreting information

Education is the process of acquiring and interpreting information. It does not supply concrete answers but instead facilitates a logical and rational mind capable of telling links between relevant variables and, as a result, interpreting a situation.

Education teaches:

  • intellectual and moral characteristics
  • awareness of fundamental ideas
  • the ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate information fairly

It has a more extensive range than training, which is more focused on organizational goals than individual goals.

Merits of education

  • Leads to a healthier lifestyle.
  • Gives access to socialization and better personal and professional networking.
  • Allows people to pursue their passion.
  • Provides an incredible feeling of accomplishment.
  • The more a person is educated, the more their chances of securing a job.
  • Encourages civic participation and citizenship.
  • It provides a more significant opportunity to identify individual skills.

Related: Why Is Education Important in Our Life?

Training improves the employees’ knowledge and ability

Training improves the employees’ knowledge, ability, and abilities in performing a specific profession. It has a particular goal in mind: to enhance knowledge and skill.

In today’s global world, every corporation requires high-quality employee performance to stay in business; hence training is essential.

The training aims to transmit the essential knowledge, abilities, and attitudes to execute job-related tasks. It seeks to directly increase a person’s job performance and increase output with the better work quality.

Merits of training

  • It leads to increased production in both terms of quantity and quality.
  • It helps employees learn a variety of skills.
  • Performances can improve through proper training.
  • The organization’s cooperative environment.
  • It instills trust in employees’ abilities to complete tasks.
  • It reduces employee turnover.
  • Mistakes at work are less likely to occur with good training.

The development includes activities that boost work performance

The development includes activities that boost work performance and those that promote personal growth, assisting employees in maturing and realizing their full potential so that they can become not only good employees but also great men and women to society.

Development is the process of preparing someone for a bigger and better career

In terms of the workplace, development aims to provide people with the skills to advance and take on more responsibilities. Development is the process of preparing someone for a bigger and better career.

This may entail the transmission of specific skills and knowledge and the installation of some personality characteristics and intellectual views.

Merits of development

  • It helps improve performance.
  • It improves one’s ability to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
  • An organization’s development and learning culture help to recruit new employees and promote loyalty.
  • It helps in the development of prospective good employees into exceptional leaders.
  • With proper development programs, you can increase employee engagement and motivation.
  • A company’s development programs will allow it to expand, develop, and successfully compete within its sector.

Differentiation and interactions in education, training, and development:

Though education and training are concerned with learning, education has a broader reach.

Education is a set of formal instructions received at a school or college

Since training and education often happen simultaneously, it’s challenging to distinguish between the two. Education is a set of formal instructions received at a school or college.

Training is more professional and is provided solely to do a specific job

At the same time, training is more professional and is provided solely to do a specific job. Training, rather than education, has a more immediate practical objective.

Many conventional technical school programs are solely job-oriented, whereas some training and development activities have a much broader reach and might be considered educational.

Development refers to how a person nurtures the skills to improve the overall performance

Education and development are closely linked. In other terms, development can easily be converted into education because it is more individual-oriented than training, which is more focused on the organization.

Development refers to how a person nurtures the skills to improve the overall performance in which a particular corporate sector achieves its desired outcomes.

The terms “training,” “education,” and “development” are widely employed. There could be no difference between them, but a closer examination reveals specific differences. There is little education in all training, and there is little training in all education.

Nance L. Schick, Esq.

Nance-Schick

Employment Lawyer, Third Ear Conflict Resolution | Workplace Mediator | Author, “DIY Conflict Resolution

Education is a formal instruction toward a certificate

I am an employment attorney-mediator and diversity trainer based in New York City. I have gotten a lot of education, which I would describe as formal instruction toward a certificate (e.g., diploma, degree, license).

It was very knowledge-based and often focused on theory more than implementation. I struggled in law school until I shifted the focus of my responses from “real world” to theoretical.

I returned to school at age 29 after working as an operations supervisor, human resources supervisor, employee relations representative, sports marketing director, and minor league hockey agent.

It took me a couple of semesters to remember that my legal education was generally aspirational, if not idealistic.

It taught me how to think like a lawyer:

  • Spot the issues
  • Identify the laws that apply
  • Gather the evidence in support of a client’s position
  • Argue the client’s position

Training is more about building the skill necessary to apply the knowledge effectively

My education would not have been complete without training. While in law school, I received some of that training, but some of the best training I have ever gotten came from the management training program at United Parcel Service.

We reviewed laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in that two-week program. Yet the focus wasn’t on memorizing them for an examination.

Related: What Is the Difference Between Law, Policy, and Regulation

We had discussions and participated in role plays to practice different techniques, see how they worked in different situations with other people, make mistakes, and try again. Training is more about building the skill necessary to apply the knowledge effectively.

Development builds on knowledge and skills

Finally, there is development, which is exactly what it sounds like. Development builds on knowledge and skills, usually more personal and individualized than education or training.

Development might include mentoring or coaching and education and training, depending on the person’s goals and needs. Sometimes the development is professional, such as reviewing an area of law or a new technique.

The development could be personal

At other times, the development could be personal, such as conflict resolution skills or communication skills (which are also arguably professional skills, yet many people still deem them personal).

When an employer offers the development, the individual’s goals will be aligned with the employer’s goals, which sometimes means it’s in everyone’s best interests to end the employment relationship.

Yet, in those cases, the separation is often much more amicable. I have twice unintentionally assisted employees in finding more compatible employment by discussing their personal and professional development goals.

In both, we ended the employment, but not all aspects of our relationship. That is possible in more cases than is often believed, and it is how I want to continue to run my business indefinitely.

Owen Wilcox

Owen Wilcox

Financial Expert | Co-founder, USInstallmentLoans

The differences between training, education, and development are sublime, leading most communicators to interchange or use one instead of another wrongly.

That, however, doesn’t hinder the fact that their differences are as clear as day and night.

Differences in the objectives

Training is a learning process meant to teach a person skills

Training is a learning process meant to teach a person skills necessary for a particular job or task. For example, training may involve teaching employees skills for operating machinery at a manufacturing plant.

Education refers to the learning process to sharpen a student’s intellect

Education refers to the learning process to sharpen a student’s intellect and thinking capacity.

To expound on the previous example, training fosters operational skills, and education leads to understanding why the machinery behaves and how to fix or improve its features.

Development is creating a holistic individual in tune with their mind, body, and soul

On the other hand, development is creating a holistic individual in tune with their mind, body, and soul. The aim is to enhance the recipients’ self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and creativity.

Differences in the teaching methodology

Training is undertaken through specialized courses, textbooks, and practices

Training is undertaken through specialized courses, textbooks, and practices to transfer skills and competencies required to carry out particular tasks.

Organizations mainly train employees to:

  • Appraise them for the company culture
  • Improve their productivity
  • Build confidence at work
  • Foster a cooperative environment

Education is a lifelong process conducted through the exchange of knowledge

Education, on its part, is a lifelong process conducted through the exchange of knowledge and books other than textbooks. In education, the learner is encouraged to think and write to grasp the knowledge better and critique it to come up with better concepts.

Development may be undertaken with the help of teachers in the initial stages

On the other hand, development may be undertaken with the help of teachers in the initial stages. Still, it’s mainly a personal journey. Only the recipient can speak with certainty about whether they have reached their destination.

In this regard, development is comparable to eating, as only the one eating can state when they are satisfied.

Sasha Laghonh

Sasha Laghonh

Strategist | Author | Speaker, Sasha Talks

Education is acquiring knowledge through exploring ideas

Education is acquiring knowledge through exploring ideas and understanding how these concepts came into existence. This includes acknowledging the evolution of ideas that oversees the past, present, and future.

Education isn’t always categorized as non-fiction due to the genre of knowledge available, or else society’s identity would be limited without the presence of fictional elements and critical thinking.

Training is the step where individuals put their knowledge/ideas to good use

The latter seeds of knowledge yield their utility value through training and application. Training is the step where individuals put their knowledge/ideas to good use to produce results that align with their goals.

For example, if you’re a baker, you learn to make bread. This can be done through:

  • taking classes
  • apprenticeships
  • watching videos
  • reading books
  • even word of mouth

The training stage welcomes the baker to put their acquired knowledge to good use

The training stage welcomes the baker to put their acquired knowledge to good use by creating their desired output (bread).

This process is not confined to a time frame because some students are fast learners while others require more time to process information before effectively applying it through practice.

The specific baking skills needed for making bread will require repetitive processes performed over time, which helps the baker refine their approach and technique to produce a result.

Sooner or later, the training milestone eventually transitions to the development phase. This is where the pre-existing and new knowledge, including practice, translates to custom strategies the baker can implement by exercising more creative control of their craft.

The baker hosts the fundamentals of making bread. They’ve learned what works through trial and error from experience; now, they’ve graduated to infusing their custom knowledge in “their” baking process.

It’s become a more sacred engagement for them, which began as a foreign concept that has become personalized to their preferences.

The baker may find better ways to optimize their time and resources in making bread by modifying the steps of baking different types of bread for different audiences under other circumstances.

Learning doesn’t cease because new aspects of education can be sought

Learning doesn’t cease because new aspects of education can be sought during the training and development phase. The latter stage allows the baker to develop and communicate their expertise through education mediums to teach others.

It’s important to remember some people host pre-existing knowledge on specific topics, but they haven’t had a reason or perhaps an opportunity to apply it through training and development.

Some people engage in learning for pleasure, while others may engage in fulfilling a required metric to meet academic or professional needs.

Adam Fard

Adam Fard

Founder and Head Of Design

Training is a crucial tool for every workforce

Training is a crucial tool for every workforce. This is true in all industries, not just oil and gas. Companies want their employees to be safer, more efficient, and more prepared than ever before, and they recognize the need for excellent training.

Training is mentioned whenever the workforce increases, a firm launches a new endeavor, or a crisis hits. New hires require training. Retrain current personnel. Employees depart due to a lack of training.

Education is acquiring information, skill, and development via study or training

By definition, education is acquiring information, skill, and development via study or training. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines training as the process of learning the abilities required to do a job or activity.

As these definitions show, while education and training are closely connected, they are not identical.

Education is the process of gaining broad information and skills in a classroom

Education is the process of gaining broad information and skills in a classroom or other educational setting. Educated skills and knowledge help kids build thinking and judgment around vast themes.

Education usually takes place throughout a semester or even years

Education usually takes place throughout a semester or even years. A student often seeks and pays for education to get a future job or advance in their profession.

Training refers to gaining technical information and abilities

Training refers to gaining technical information and abilities. It might take place in a classroom or out in the field. It is designed to increase employee performance and productivity by focusing on a specific skill set.

Training is frequently mandated, delivered, and sponsored by an employer after employment is gained.

Although some training courses might continue for weeks, they usually are considerably shorter than educational courses since they cover more precise and concentrated topics.

Simply defined, training is a specialized sort of education. Training and education focus on information acquisition, while training is significantly more task-oriented and skills-based.

Jim Wasserman

Jim Wasserman

Litigation Attorney | Retired Teacher, ORCID

Training is helping to do a specific task

Training is helping to do a specific task, often by way of a good response/reaction. My students went into the test knowing that if they could eliminate one of five multiple-choice answers, the odds were in their favor to guess.

They also knew some great historical quotes (Abigail Adams’ “Remember the ladies”) to use in essays.

Development was the improvement of students’ skills over time

Development was the improvement of their skills over time. Hopefully, between the beginning of the course and the test, my students learned how to read a question and understand what it was asking, come up with pertinent facts and insightful analysis, and then display those skills with a well-constructed essay.

I had students who began the course unable to write a tight introductory paragraph with a thesis that directly answered the question. They had developed that skill through their hard work during test time and then carried it into college.

Education understands the broader and deeper meaning of matters

Education understands the broader and deeper meaning of matters in the greater picture of life. For my course, that was the most important lesson, that how one score on one test on one day is a terrible metric of how good a student one is and, even more, how one will fare in life.

In fact, one’s high school career is not measured by where one goes to college but by what one takes with them wherever they go (including knowing and accepting yourself).

I used to have a student write down the names of people they admired in their life and then the university they attended (if they did) to see there was little correlation between leading an admirable life and where they enrolled.

In essence, I trained students for my paycheck, I helped develop students’ skills for them to realize their potential, and I educated them to make a better world.

Beverly Gearreald

Beverly Gearreald

College Counselor | Community Manager, Transizion

Education typically grants you a degree

This program typically grants you a degree, a high-school diploma, or a Ph.D. However, there is also a broader context in that one is generally considered “educated” when one knows enough general knowledge, whether a formal education was involved.

Indeed, some people with a formal education still end up coming across as uneducated, depending on the quality of their education.

Training tends to be more specific and shorter than “getting an education”

This tends to be more specific and shorter than “getting an education.” For example, one can be trained to use a particular tool or software independent of one’s level of formal education.

This can result in taking a test and getting a certificate but typically does not involve getting a formalized degree.

The development includes improving any skill

Of all the titles used thus far, this is the hardest to define for me because it can be extensive. In particular, professional development can include improving any skill, especially soft skills, necessary for a job.

One can also get certificates for participating in professional development programs, but these are generally not standardized and are not widely recognized.

That being said, depending on what you’re hoping to achieve in your career, professional development can be an extremely important component, such as improving language or communication skills.

One of the best ways to figure out how to advance your career is through mentorship. A mentor in the same field can help determine whether you need another degree, a certification, or just an improved skill set to help you get the promotion or new job you want.

As a mentoring company with professionals from various fields, our company can help you do just that.

Ellie Walters

Ellie Walters

CEO, FindPeopleFaster

It is easy to confuse the three or two of the three because they each speak of improvement. However, there is a difference between these three concepts and their applications within the language and organizational expectations.

Education is giving and receiving systematic instruction

Education is giving and receiving systematic instruction, typically concerning a particular field of knowledge. This process involves the indoctrination of concepts; students or employees read or are read to.

They are expected to show that they remember what they have been taught by being able to replicate that information on request.

Training involves undertaking or supervising actions

Training involves undertaking or supervising actions towards achieving a particular condition or acquiring a specific ability or skill.

This process involves routine actions taken by the participants to carry out specific tasks more effectively. Participants are then expected to carry out the skill for which they were trained as a test of the completion of their training.

Development is a change in a situation or subject

Development is a change in a situation or subject resulting in advancement or decline in the state of that situation or subject.

While education and training can be restricted to a field, development is more general. It refers to the improvement or decline of the subject’s general state, especially in other matters of the exact nature.

Differences between Education, Training and Development:

EducationTrainingDevelopment
TargetPursues knowledgePursues abilityMeasures any changes
ImprovementImproves reasoning and clear judgementImproves performance, ability and productivityImproves or diminishes general conditions of the subject
FocusWider focus on associated knowledgeNarrow focus on a skillAll round improvement of personality and relationships
TheoryStudents learn theory and conceptsStudents apply theories and develop skillStudents observe trends within a field of knowledge
Acquisition of knowledgeStudents learn through instructionStudents learn by practicing what they are shownStudents advance by solving problems
AdjectiveAcademicVocational or ProfessionalGeneral or partial
InterconnectivityStudents need education in order to complete a trainingStudents cannot start training without educationStudents develop after applying their training and education has yielded changes in their contexts or situations

Thomas Niemczewski

Thomas Niemczewski

Owner, Stayyy

Development refers to changing something

The main difference between education and training is that the former involves learning something while the latter does not. This is different from development, which refers to changing something.

Education is a process by which people learn something new

Education is a process by which people learn something new. However, it does not mean that they have to go through all the learning steps. They can learn something in a short period of time in a few short sessions with no preparation or guidance.

Training refers to all the steps involved in learning and teaching someone new skills

On the other hand, training refers to all the steps involved in learning and teaching someone new skills. Education and training are sometimes confused with each other. They are not the same thing.

Sometimes education can be classified as training, but it is not educational in the sense of learning something new in a short period of time. It is more like learning how to do something or perform a specific task very well, such as driving or cooking at home.

Education as applied to learning new skills at school to enter adult life successfully

Education can be limited or unlimited. There are many different definitions of education and training, but they all use the same basic ideas. The first one is “education,” as applied to learning new skills at school to enter adult life successfully.

Education as applied to learning new skills beyond school

The second definition is education as applied to learning new skills beyond school; this means that during your working life, you need to learn new “skills” that you will need or will be able to use in business or society.

Education as applied to education itself

Finally, there is the third definition, which is education as applied to education itself. This definition emphasizes learning on your own time and needs; it includes learning skills useful for all aspects of lifelong learning and career development.

Mathew Bowley

Mathew Bowley

Marketing Manager, Solmar Villas

Training is the process of mastering a set of pre-programmed actions

Training is the process of mastering a set of pre-programmed actions. Training is the use of knowledge. It makes people aware of the norms and procedures that will guide their actions. It aims to improve their current job performance or prepare them for future employment.

Development encompasses activities that boost job performance

A related process is a development. It encompasses activities that boost job performance and those that promote personality development; it assists individuals in maturing and realizing their full potential so that they can become not only good employees but also better men and women.

It is intended to provide people with the skills they need to advance in their careers and take on more responsibilities. Development is the process of preparing someone for a bigger and better job.

This may entail the transmission of specific skills and knowledge and the installation of certain personality traits and mental attitudes. In this way, development and education are very similar.

Education entails the comprehension and application of knowledge

Education entails the comprehension and application of knowledge. It does not provide definitive answers.

It fosters the development of a logical and rational mind capable of determining relationships among relevant variables and, as a result, character and an understanding of fundamental principles and the development of analytical, synthesis, and objectivity skills.

Typically, education is not part of an organization’s mission. It necessitates skills and knowledge that can only be acquired through formal education. Such institutions can help an organization assist and enhance its internal training and development activities.

Andrea M. Dey

Andrea M. Dey

Founder, Dey & Co. Design Living, LLC

Education helps many to learn and discover new things

In 2020 the difference between education, training, and development became less and less apparent to the point that it took on a new meaning; reinvention and reinvent fast!

Leaving many, especially those over the age of 50, scrambling to catch up, stay on pace, or just leave it altogether.

I remember two distinct things in April of 2020 while staying at my mom’s (an executive at a major broadcasting news company) house:

  • The first is the constant barrage of boxes from Amazon and furniture stores to convert her bedroom into her home office.
  • The second was her growing frustration as she spoke with her department to set up her new workstation and troubleshoot its glitches.

Her frustration grew even more as she had to learn new software and programs for team meetings that were now only taking place through video and group chat apps.

As a veteran in the finance industry, spreadsheets were second nature to her, and anything that wasn’t, there was an assistant to handle it.

Now amid a global pandemic that was disrupting everything we once knew, she had to gain a new education, get hands-on training, and develop new skills daily to sometimes hourly.

Learning a new language, apps, how to lead remote meetings, and more happened simultaneously. It became sink or swim, as life was happening, and this new way of doing business was not going to go away anytime soon.

Fast forward to now, April 2022. She has not only perfected the art of remote work, but now has tips and techniques for controlling the lighting to the right colors in clothing for the work, happy hours, and more events taking place virtually.

Education is the foundation that familiarizes one with the language and the basic formula

Education is the foundation that familiarizes one with the language and the basic formula. It’s the start of the conversation per se.

We then put it into practice through hands-on training. This allows us to gain experience and firsthand knowledge of navigating the subject matter or area of interest.

The development stage is a series of adapting, updating, and expanding on that knowledge

We hit the development stage, which is an ongoing process. It’s a series of adapting, updating, and expanding on that knowledge in changing times.

The pandemic has created a new language, formulas, and a new way of training and development.

Rahul Vij

Rahul Vij

CEO, WebSpero Solutions

Education is the formal teaching and learning environment

Education is the formal teaching and learning environment in schools, colleges, and universities. It means giving knowledge of the unknown, introducing the learners to new concepts/theories, and clearing their doubts about the previous learning.

Education consists of three important things:

  • Reception (acquiring knowledge from different sources)
  • Retention (retaining it in your mind to be stored in the brain’s long-term memory)
  • Recall (to reproduce what is learned in tests and exams)

Without these three elements, education is incomplete.

Training means practicing and applying the skills learned in real-life situations

It means practicing and applying the skills learned in real-life situations. Training always comes after learning, for example, job training and internships.

Training enhances learning by doing. The more one practices the skill with their hands, the more perfect and able one becomes in doing that particular job efficiently.

Development is a blend of both education and training

Development is a blend of both education and training. For example, in an organization, when the training and development programs are run for the employees, they enhance the employee’s overall development.

First, he is educated about the new skills and then is trained practically in what he is taught. As a result, employees learn new capabilities that boost their self morale, and they grow on a professional and personal front.

Angedith Poggi, MPH, DHSc

Angedith Poggi

Adjunct Professor | Educational Consultant

Education is a powerful tool for making informed decisions

Education is a powerful tool for making informed decisions related to personal, professional, and societal matters; consequently, education impacts many people’s lives.

Learners pursuing higher education degrees are motivated not only by their personal goals but also by the contribution they may have to their field.

Earning a higher education degree may represent professional opportunities, a salary increase, and the privilege to contribute to research through projects related to a specific field.

However, formal education or higher education involves many expenses, sacrifices, and time. For instance, many learners struggle to balance their personal and professional life commitments while pursuing an academic degree.

Related: How to Live a Balanced Life? What Does it Really Mean?

Training and professional development represent viable options for adult learners

Therefore, training and professional development represent viable options for adult learners to acquire practical and relevant skills to advance their careers.

“Education is power.” Learning is crucial for individuals who seek professional opportunities, regardless of the duration and type of the program.

As a lifelong learner, I encourage everyone to maximize the opportunities to continue learning through formal, informal, and nonformal training.

James Chapman

James Chapman

Operations Manager, BELLA Bathrooms

In business, you will see the distinction between these three following concepts:

  • Education
  • Training
  • Development

They are all necessary for you to succeed as an employee and employer.

Education is a process of gaining knowledge through the usage of a school system

Education is a highly acknowledged source of expertise that companies usually accept because the credibility of the person’s expertise is demonstrated through the diploma certificate issued, especially when the diploma comes from a prestigious institution.

Training is acquiring knowledge, skills, and competency for a specific purpose

Training is acquiring knowledge, skills, and competency for a specific purpose under the supervision of someone with superior authority or experience in the role. It is highly focused on the job taken.

Development is the act of growth you have acquired

Development is the act of growth you have acquired after being able to go through various situations. The progress will reflect on your actions in handling your job, embodying the knowledge, skills, and competency you have acquired from your training and education.

It is career-oriented and reflects on your entire performance as an employee. These three concepts can significantly impact your performance as an employee or an employer if used well.

Dr. Brian Harris

Brian Harris

Lead Medical Advisor, SNOW

Education is the process of learning a new concept

Education is the process of learning a new concept and refers to a broader spectrum. It isn’t just limited to a concept or skill; it caters to developing a sense of judgment and reasoning skills.

Education is through books, lectures, and videos and is usually carried out in schools and universities.

Training usually refers to learning new skills that have immediate use

Training usually refers to learning new skills that have immediate use. Training is a more short-term process where you learn a new skill to be used in your career.

It is more vocational-oriented and is mainly carried out at work when you’re already in a role.

Development is usually a long-term process built upon your current education and training

Development is usually a long-term process built upon your current education and training. When you’re developing a skill, you’re enhancing your skills to be more efficient and effective.

This is a continuous process and includes both professional and personal growth.

Kim Luong

Kim Luong

Founder, Kimsadvice

Education is something that you don’t have knowledge of

Education is the knowledge the employee has to get at school in the computer field. Education is something that you don’t have knowledge of, and you seek that knowledge.

It is called education. For example, Bachelor’s degree in computer science is called education.

Training is when a person is about to finish their degree

Training is when a person is about to finish their degree. They have to do training in an organization to put into practice what they have learned in school.

It could also be training from any employee within an organization about a particular topic. Training is about putting your hand and doing the work with the supervision of some sort by someone else.

Development is when a person wants to acquire more knowledge in some area

Development is when this same person wants to acquire more knowledge in some area, either personal or professional. They can seek any course to enhance their learning.

This person already has some base, and when to improve this base is called development.

Agnieszka Goulin

Agnieszka Goulin

Head of People, Spacelift

Training refers to expanding the knowledge, skill, attitude, abilities, and potential of the employee

Training refers to expanding the knowledge, skill, attitude, abilities, and potential of the employee to improve and hone the job performance.

It ensures better job performance and is crucial in the age of constant advancement in technology, wide use of computerization, and related culture.

Education has a broader objective as its purpose is to develop the individual

While training concerns the increase in knowledge, skills, and abilities for a particular job, i.e., has a narrow aim, education has a broader objective as its purpose is to develop the individual.

Education takes place in schools, colleges, and universities, while the place of work usually provides training. It enhances the individual’s general knowledge and motivates them to understand the environment.

Development refers to the growth of an individual in all respects

Training refers to the enhancement of skills for a particular job, and development refers to the growth of an individual in all respects. Training achieves immediate gains for the organization, while development focuses on the organization’s long-term needs.

A combination of training and development programs and an HR strategy allows for effective and efficient operation.

Dr. Ritesh Jain, MBBS, FRACP

Ritesh Jain

Consultant Respiratory and Sleep Medicine | Co-Founder, WhatASleep

Education focuses more on theoretical knowledge and academic skills

The major difference between education, training, and development is each method’s opportunity to hone one’s skills. Education focuses more on theoretical knowledge and academic skills.

Training allows you to put that theoretical knowledge into practice

On the other hand, training allows you to put that theoretical knowledge into practice. As a result, you get to know how different the real world is compared to the academic world.

Development helps you further improve the skills you learned

Lastly, development is different from the other two because it helps you further improve the skills you learned during the education and training phase.

Education focuses on a systematic way of learning

The learning system that education, training, and development follow is entirely different. Education focuses on a systematic way of learning. This is usually done through a classroom setting and learning via theory.

Training emphasizes learning through practical application to boost one’s productivity and performance. Development also focuses on practice, but a more advanced form of it. People should concentrate on honing a wide range of skills in the development phase.

Lanny Tuchmayer

Lanny Tuchmayer

Lawyer | Director of Operations, Bergel Law

Training refers to learning to do something through performing or practicing

The major distinction between education and training is that they use different approaches to knowledge acquisition. Training refers to learning to do something through performing or practicing, whereas education refers to learning to do something theoretically.

They are both training two separate areas of the brain in this manner. The word education brings up images of children in classrooms for most people. However, the term can be applied in a variety of other settings.

Education refers to the act, process, or methodology of transmitting or gaining general knowledge

When used in this context, education refers to the act, process, or methodology of transmitting or gaining general knowledge, developing reasoning and critical abilities, and preparing oneself or others for a particular life role.

The term “training” has a variety of definitions. Some types of training are intended to help people learn specific work skills. Other types of training include instructing people on how to perform a given task for particular employment.

In general, training is the process of educating or instructing someone on how to perform various activities.

Elliot Lucas

Elliot Lucas

Marketing Assistant, Portland Training Company

Education is learning to understand something

Education is learning to understand something. A lousy education is all about absorbing facts. You cram, cram, cram until you can regurgitate it. When you receive a good education, you’ll also understand how the facts interrelate and why they are true.

Training is learning to do something

Training is learning to do something. Unlike education, this usually has a hands-on component.

Development is learning to be something

Development is learning to be something. You can become competent at something with training alone. But you cannot become a master of it without action.

For example, you can receive training in painting, giving you the technical skills required, but you have to develop into an artist. I think this is true for all professions. By definition, development always involves rewriting who you are a little bit.

In practice, these three things usually come as a bundle. For example, my company is helping someone back into work as a forklift driver.

The learner needs education (health and safety, what does that button do etc.), training (we run them through an indoor maze on the forklift until they can navigate well), and development (the transition from long-term unemployment back into work requires grit and often a confidence boost).

Tim Parker

Tim Parker

Director of Marketing, Syntax Integration

Training is imparting knowledge and skills on precise, factual, and narrowly focused subject matter

Training is imparting knowledge and skills on precise, factual, and narrowly focused subject matter and skills. It is a structured learning activity that takes place in a classroom setting.

A broader intellectual or theoretical subject matter and the evolution of human attitudes are all included in the definition of development. There are many different learning activities, including both on and off-the-job training.

Education is the way professors provide content to pupils about a topic

There is also a formal classroom component. The primary purpose of education is for professors to provide content to pupils learning about the topic area they are teaching them.

The subject matter under research is well-known on a fundamental level. Teaching and training are examples of activities that fall within this category.

Learning is defined as acquiring new knowledge

Learning is defined as acquiring new knowledge or abilities through study, practice, or instruction. Learning can take place in any setting. It is an experience-based process that results in long-term changes in the potential for behavior.

When an individual has the potential to behave in a specific way to achieve a goal, this is referred to as their behavior potential.

Rodney Warner

Rodney Warner

Business Development Manager | CEO, Connective Web Design

Education is a brilliant way for the capitalist to control the working class

Education is a brilliant way for the capitalist to control the working class. They try to instill practices that will benefit them in the long and short run. This hidden agenda promotes social inequality among the working and ruling class.

Training allows individuals to develop some skills that are useful for everyday life

Training, unlike education, is more on the practical side. It allows individuals to develop some skills that are useful for everyday life.

As a result, they can enhance their existing knowledge and outshine others who focus on sticking to old practices, like rote learning.

The development allows individuals to grow and achieve their personal and professional goals

On the other hand, development is an informative process that allows individuals to grow and achieve their personal and professional goals. This is an attempt to overcome any future challenges and try to come up with practical solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can organizations support education, training, and development for their employees?

When it comes to nurturing employee growth, education, training, and development are critical components. Organizations that invest in their employees’ education and skill development benefit from improved productivity, increased employee satisfaction, and reduced turnover.

Here are some ways that organizations can support education, training, and development for their employees.

Offer training programs: Organizations can provide structured training programs for employees to learn new skills or develop existing ones. This could involve in-person training sessions, online courses, or a combination of both.

Provide mentorship opportunities: Pairing employees with mentors who have more experience and knowledge can help them develop professionally. This allows employees to learn from seasoned professionals who can offer guidance and insights.

Encourage continuous learning: Encourage employees to continue learning by providing access to resources such as books, articles, and podcasts. Organizations can also provide support for employees who want to pursue additional education, such as degree programs or professional certifications.

Create a culture of learning: Organizations can foster a culture of learning by promoting the value of education and development. Encouraging open communication and feedback, and providing opportunities for employees to share their knowledge and expertise, can help create a collaborative and learning-focused work environment.

Offer career development programs: Organizations can offer career development programs that help employees identify their career goals and create a plan to achieve them. This could include coaching, workshops, and other resources to help employees advance in their careers.

Provide job shadowing opportunities: Allowing employees to shadow their colleagues or leaders in different roles can help them gain a better understanding of different departments and roles within the organization. This can help employees develop a broader perspective and gain insights into how the organization operates.

Provide feedback and recognition: Feedback and recognition are essential components of employee development. Providing constructive feedback and recognition for achievements can help employees improve their performance and feel valued.

How does education and training affect development?

Education and training play a critical role in the overall development of individuals, and have been found to impact various aspects of life. Here are some ways in which education and training affect development:

Cognitive Development: Education and training help individuals develop better cognitive skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. They also aid in the development of literacy and numeracy skills.

Personal Development: Education and training help individuals build self-confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose. They also help individuals develop social skills, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

Career Development: Education and training equip individuals with the skills and knowledge required to pursue a successful career. They also help individuals stay up-to-date with the latest developments in their fields.

Economic Development: Education and training play a vital role in the economic development of a country. They help create a skilled workforce, increase productivity, and drive innovation and technological advancements.

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