TRAINING, EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Abstract

There is much confusion surrounding the terms ‘training’, ‘education’, ‘development’ and ‘learning,’ to the point where they are often used interchangeably. In the context of human resource development, however, it is often necessary to define and delineate each of these in order to clarify the associated activities and desired outcomes within an organisation. This paper examines the issue in depth by outlining some of the traditional definitions of these terms and their implications for human resource development, ultimately demonstrating how they are best viewed as interconnected, if separate. Employee training, in particular, is associated with on-the-job skills acquired for a particular role, while education is seen as relating to a more formal academic background. In increasingly complex organisations, it may be argued that aspects of each are necessary to ensure full employee potential.