Brand new website for ABE Qualifications

ABE is excited to have launched its new web site in February 2016. The web site forms part of a brand and product refresh which will continue throughout the year.  Our Director of International Marketing, Kate Winter said, "We hope that our learners and centre partners like our new site and find it easy to use. As well as a new fresh image, we've made it easier to find centres so that users can jump straight to the country of their choice."

Please note that ABE's blog is now incorporated on the new website, so find us on https://abeuk.com/blog.

David Osman Chazungulira, HR and Operations Manager, Victory Christian Children's Home, Malawi

David grew up in an orphanage having lost his parents and brothers early in life so his path has been far from easy.  However, through hard work and determination achieved his ABE HRM Diploma and has built a successful career.

“I am from a family of five.  I have two sisters and two brothers, unfortunately my brothers passed away together with both my parents when I was five and I was taken to an orphanage where I grew up and did all my studies. I did my ABE studies in HRM from 2009 to 2012. Now I am married and have a daughter.

I work at Victory Christian Children’s Home - an orphanage founded by Dr. Charles Trombley in 1993. Its main objective is to provide homes for orphans and morally, spiritually and generally educate them.  I work here as Human Resource and Operations Manager I particularly enjoy the conflict resolving part of HR, because it broadens knowledge and experience in HRM field

It hasn’t been an easy path to come to this point it took hard-work and determination. I did not do well all at once but I never gave up, I pushed until I got what I needed.

I learnt about ABE qualifications from a friend who was doing Business Administration, I initially I thought I would just try the qualifications but along the way I begun to like my studies more and more. I had no knowledge about the HRM field until I opted for this course and now I can do things that I never dreamt of doing before.

ABE studies are not easy to a lazy person, it takes time studying and determination to accomplish your goal. Study hard and never give up until you get what you strive for - that’s my advice to those starting ABE studies.”

Your guide to choosing optional units

When you start your ABE Level 5 or Level 6 qualification one of the things you will need to think about is which optional units to choose.  If you have gone on to a Bachelors or Masters programme these too may well require you to select from a list of several subject areas.

For some this will be easy but for others making that selection can be difficult and stressful.  It can feel like a big responsibility.  Your choice can help to shape the types of jobs you are most likely to be considered for and therefore the way in which your career could develop.  Your selection may also lead you in a particular direction to future areas of study or higher level qualifications.   For these reasons it is important that you have weighed up all the options and worked out what is right for you.

So, if you are finding selecting optional units a daunting prospect, here are some ideas about how to approach this.

1. Understand your choices. Read the syllabus and learning outcomes of all the optional units don’t just rely on the unit title.  Whilst the title is a reflection of the unit, it won’t necessarily give you a full picture of all aspects and areas of study and, with just a title to go on, it is too easy to make assumptions, so to fully understand your options make sure you really understand the content of each unit.

2. Understand yourself.  Think about the subjects you liked and did well at previously, think about the sort of things you enjoy doing, what you want to learn and the areas where you shine.   If you enjoy your subjects you are likely to do well at them and ultimately this could lead you build a career in a field you love.

3. Think about your ambitions.  If you have a particular ambition or area of work you aspire to, find out what skills and expertise employers in that sector would value most and this may help you narrow down your choices.

4. Identify opportunities. If you don’t yet have a specific career path you want to follow find out what sort of skills would be valued in different roles.  Also find out if employers feel there is a skills shortage or high volume of work opportunities in any of the areas covered by the optional units.  If there are, gaining those skills could be a route to quick success.

5. Talk to your tutor.  Tutors at ABE accredited centres are well placed to give you good advice from a local view point.

For points 3 and 4, a good employment agency should be able to advise.  But talk to several so that you benefit from more than one perspective.  Also keep an eye on local job advertisements.

Finally, remember there is no right or wrong choice - all units will develop your knowledge and add to your professional skill set.  These are just some ideas if you are finding it difficult to narrow things down – we hope you found them helpful and wish you all the best with your choices.