Risk management is increasingly being viewed as a fundamental and strategic process by businesses of all sizes to ensure not only profitability and compliance with legislation, but also long-term sustainability and continuity. 

In this article, we will explain what risk management maturity is, how to assess it, and what questions the company should ask to determine where it stands in terms of this method. 

Risk Maturity Models 

This term refers to an organization’s level of risk management readiness, or the information it has about the mechanism and how it is implemented. Risk management maturity, in general, helps businesses to assess how well they handle the various risks to which they are exposed. What is more, why is it necessary to know where you stand in terms of risk management maturity? It is critical because it allows you to see what is working and what is not, and then structure and develop steps to get to the highest level of risk management maturity possible. 

Models of risk management maturity 

There are a variety of models that can be used to assess an organization’s risk management maturity. Here are a few examples: 

Maturity of Risk Index 

It was founded in 2011 by Aon and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Based on the assessment of activities relevant to corporate governance and decision-making, this index helps managers, executives, and risk practitioners in general to define which are the key areas of their risk management process. 

The following ten characteristics are taken into account in this assessment suggested by Aon and The Wharton School Risk Maturity Index: 

• At the board level, understanding and dedication to risk management is a key element in making decisions and driving value. 
• A senior executive who directs and supports the implementation of key processes and risk management strategies. 
• Risk communication that is transparent. 
• At all levels of the company, a risk culture that promotes full engagement and transparency. 
• Using internal and external data and information, identify current and emerging risks. 

• Participation of key stakeholders in the implementation of a risk management plan and policy formulation.
  

• Information on organizational and financial risks is gathered and formally incorporated into the decision-making process.
  

• Information on organizational and financial risks is gathered and formally incorporated into the decision-making process. 

• Integration of risk management data with human resource systems to promote long-term business success. 
• To understand risk and show added benefit by risk management, sophisticated quantification approaches are used. 

• Shift the attention away from avoiding and minimizing risks and toward leveraging risk and risk control strategies that add value. 

The maturity level of the organization is measured on a scale of 1 to 5 based on the information gathered: 

Level 1 or initial risk identification and mitigation: the company recognizes and mitigates threats on its own. The risk management mechanism has a restricted scope. 

Level 2 or fundamental: the organization’s main threats are poorly understood, managed, and monitored. Risk management capabilities are minimal, and the knowledge available on this method is ad hoc. 

Level 3 or defined: the organization addresses its main risks, has the tools to evaluate, control, and track them, but there may be anomalies within the organization. 

Level 4 or operational: the organization’s key threats are identified, and activities to mitigate them are carried out regularly. Information on risk control is specifically considered when making decisions. 

The company has a high capacity to classify, assess, control, and track its threats at level 5 or higher. Risk management is a dynamic mechanism that adapts to changes, as well as a process that offers competitive advantages. 

Auditors’ measurement model 

Basil Orsini, the Director of Internal Audit for the Department of Human Resources in Canada at the time, established it in 2002. The calculation of risk management maturity in this model is based on five key aspects: 

• It is all about the culture. 

• Leadership and dedication are required. 
• Organizational systems integration. 
• Skills in risk control. 
• Monitor and report. 

The maturity levels defined based on the evaluations conducted for each of these points are: 

Incipient: no structured risk management mechanism has been introduced, and there is no deliberate recognition or control of these risks. 

Known: despite the existence of a structured risk management system, its administration is fragmented, decentralized, and insufficiently trained. 

Defined: the risk management system in place is followed, and policies and procedures involving the entire company are in place. 

Managed: risk management has been properly established, and the organization’s risk tolerance has been clearly defined. Risk management is integrated into the corporate culture, and metrics for continuous assessment and control are in place. 

Questions to ask to determine the level of risk management maturity. 

When undertaking an evaluation to determine how risk management is implemented in the enterprise, which must be considered a critical component of all processes, it is critical to consider a variety of questions that cover the most important aspects, such as the government, the management process, personnel, technology, risk appetite, policies and procedures, and so on. 

These questions will help you determine the company’s risk management maturity level. The highest level (advanced or optimized) should be aspired to because it demonstrates that risk management is developed in an organized, comprehensive, and timely manner, involving all members of the organization’s staff, and thus it is possible to meet strategic goals and maintain long-term business continuity. 

Prime numbers are one of the most important concepts of mathematics, and it has numerous applications in the real world such as cryptography, card security and so on. In Mathematics, every number is made up by multiplying prime numbers. We can find out what prime numbers make an original number by using prime factorization.

Prime Factorisation is an interesting concept. It lets you find the factors of a number. In fact, each and every number is a product of its prime. The concept of prime factorization of a number is quite simple. Once students get accustomed to the concept, they enjoy solving it. In this blog, we will cover the topic of prime factorization and list out various interesting ways to find the factors of a given number.

Let’s dive in then!

Prime Factorization – Definition

The process of finding out the prime numbers which make an original number is known as prime factorization. We can find the prime factorization of a given number by various methods. Prime Factorisation is basically performed on composite numbers in order to find its prime factors. It is also used in finding the LCM  ( Least Common Multiple ) and the HCF or GCF ( Highest or Greatest Common Factor.

In this blog, we will go through some of these methods in order to get a crystal clear understanding of the concept of Prime Factorisation.

Methods to Find Prime Factorization

Division Method

In this method, we find out the prime factors of a given number by using the following steps :

• Step – 1: We first divide the given number by the smallest prime number, which divides this number exactly. E.g. 320/2 = 160
• Step- 2: Now, we need to divide this quotient by the smallest prime number. Following the above example, we now have 160/2 = 90
• Step 3: We now repeat step-2 until the quotient is one. (Upon following this, we get six times the multiple of 2 and one time 5)
• Step 4: We can now see all the prime factors in multiples. i.e. 320 = 2⁶ x 5

Factor Tree Method

In order to find the prime factorization by factor tree method, we need to follow the following steps:

• Step 1: The first step is imagination. You need to imagine this number as a root of a tree. Let’s assume the number is 24.
• Step 2: Now write down any two factors of that tree. The pair of factors needs to be listed below the number which we considered as the root of that tree. The pair of composite factors for 24, in this case, is 6 and 4
• Step 3: The listed two factors of the given number needs to factorize. Once you factorize the given number, list down the composite factors below the factors. Upon factorization of 6 and 4, we get its factors (2,3) and (2,2) respectively.
• Step 4: Step-3 is repeated until we find the prime factors of the composite numbers in the above steps. From our example, we do not need any further factorization as per our example as we have already got the product of primes.

The factor tree method is simple and fun! You just need to find two composite factors of a number and the rest steps follow through. I hope you enjoyed learning Prime Factorisation with the help of these methods. Cuemath is an online learning platform that helps you understand these methods with the help of visual tools that can help you develop rock-solid concepts.

I hope this blog helped you understand how to find the prime factorization of a given number. Remember, regular practice of these methods can be beneficial in the long run as it gives you a speed boost and keeps you way ahead in the game! Happy Learning.

Every form of education targets some form of knowledge in different ways. Short-term training programs address the needs of a section that aspires to gain career growth after completing their graduation. Career-oriented courses make the transition from academics to professionalism much smooth, where the prospects are trained well to be tested in the real world.

If you are passionate about focusing on skill development through career oriented courses after graduation, HCL’s First Career is for you. The course aims to improve performance and define career growth.

The youth of India can brace up to enjoy freedom immediately after college. With a 360-degree structure, this career oriented course focuses on developing and empowering new college graduates who look for varied opportunities.

First Career’s module vests in trainees and train them with practical skills and knowledge needed for a professional kick-start. The short career training program also pays due focus on technical and soft skills. Expert guidance is diverted for better skill development to adapt to industry standards. The diverse training extends beyond theory to focus on the practical application of fundamentals, offering best-in-class, skill-based training programs for entry-level jobs in the IT sector.

The HCL First Careers program is beyond training, and the benefits last with the trainees even after years. The course is open to viable opportunities for professional growth that otherwise takes months to build.

Fresher’s program

The First Careers program for Fresher Engineers is designed for entry-level jobs at HCL. During the six-month training, candidates undergo extensive classroom training offered virtually and three months of professional practice. They work on global projects and deal with real-life clients. This is done under expert guidance which lets the trainees learn from those who have experience in the industry to find solutions in the best possible way.

Graduate Program: 

HCL First Career program vests in graduates and prepares them for non-technical and other relevant job roles for entry-level positions at HCL. The program ventures into numerous career tracks, which the trainees can choose as per their interest while choosing any career option in line with their expectations and career growth plans. The program keenly identifies their potential and trains them to succeed as employees in the IT sector.

Trainees completing the program are placed in HCL in job roles across departments like Application Development, Testing, IT Maintenance and support, etc.

Besides adding skills, such as training, it boosts confidence and offers benefits to sustain fierce competition. Below are some potential benefits discussed of the training program that presents the course in the most convincible way:

Maintain professional form: By investing time and interest in training, candidates get exposure to new ideas that keep them prepared to face day-to-day operational challenges.

Distinction and Eligibility over others: Organizations always prefer to hire candidates with distinction and quality who value their goals. Training programs empower you to qualify for better jobs.

Professional approach for Client servicing: Professional courses impart training for best communication in the best possible way to engage with global clients.

Job Roles: Training programs open paths for candidates to work in better job roles in prestigious organizations and areas like Application and Infrastructure support, testing, and CAD Support. The candidates remain assured of employment while knowing that they stand on the edge to start a global career offering excellent packages.

Now + Next Training: The program trains using cutting-edge technologies with practical in-demand skills while giving access to best-in-class training infrastructure and subject matter expertise.

Accelerated Professional Growth: Candidates are eligible to extract benefits from diverse learning and development opportunities via course-specific certifications.

John F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Leadership is an essential skill that is necessary for almost every other field. The role of leadership is not only limited to professional boundaries; as according to a study, no educational institute can improve its student achievement record without following an effective leadership strategy. There is a direct relationship between good educational leadership and positive student academic outcome. And it’s not just about the administration or teaching staff; leadership skills are essential for the students too.

The skills they nurture during their academic tenure benefit them in their professional life. In today’s competitive job market, employers love to hire people with strong leadership skills. Since proficient leadership is a significant contributing factor behind any organization’s success, cultivating these skills becomes even more critical during the educational period.

Let’s have a look at some other aspects to understand why leadership skills are essential in education.

1. Help Students Achieve Their Academic Goals

Influential educational leaders help students reach their academic goals. Teachers with strong leadership skills effectively mold their teaching practices and improve educational programs to facilitate student learning. These dedicated professionals work with students of all age groups to help them set the right educational goals and achieve them successfully. Of course, a middle schooler won’t have the same goals as a college student. The teachers and administrators conduct thorough research to help design programs according to the student’s learning capabilities. They oversee each student’s progress and use practical leadership skills to improve the aspects where they lag behind.

Sometimes they even offer helpful academic advice to steer their students in the right direction. Without leadership skills, fulfilling students’ needs is almost impossible.

2. Help Other Professionals Cultivate Leadership Skills

An excellent educational leader values the combined effort of many teaching and non-teaching staff who dedicate their time and efforts to their well-being. So they never shy away from helping their coworkers as well. Their leadership skills enable them to support others and encourage them for continuous learning and improvement.

Like any other profession, integrating different leadership styles in education helps leaders cultivate their fellow staff’s skills and abilities. A good leader understands their knowledge gaps, knows which skills need reinforcement, and works to fill the gaps for improved professional outcomes.

3. Build a Strong Community Network

The educational system depends on a successful collaboration between the staff, students, parents, and other community members. For successful learning, it is vital to cultivate a responsible, caring, and inclusive community network where everyone feels safe and secure. A strong community network fosters trust among peers, which makes them motivated to work hard for a shared purpose.

Influential leadership in education helps to develop and promote strong ties amongst the educational community through teachers and administrators. Administrators encourage teachers to do what they think is best for their students. In contrast, teachers find creative ways to make their students learn. All of this is impossible without quality leadership.

4. Promote a Positive Change in Educational Environment

The educational environment is rapidly evolving. Since the rise of the pandemic, it has changed beyond recognition. The lockdown imposition has pushed everyone towards online education – a shift that would not have been easy without proper leadership. Now, not only teachers but also students are working hard to facilitate their peers’ education. Through effective leadership, students and teachers can resume academic activities while adjusting to the new normal.

5. Utilize Resources and Data for Continuous Improvement

Successful leaders of the education sector use data such as the students’ assessments to make continuous improvements in the education process. However, following the site-based decision making educational leaders provide culturally responsive and equitable opportunities for all students.

Effective leadership in the education sector promotes positive learning and teaching culture. Besides, leadership in education is responsible for planning and assessing the overall cycle of the teaching and learning process. An effective leader implements and develops policies that help in improving the educational environment.

6. Encourage Teamwork

Under effective leadership, teachers and students perform as a team. A stable team helps in fostering a strong relationship and attachments between educators, children, and their parents. There are several ways to create a successful team. For instance, one may foster successful team building by developing a shared vision and aligning organizational and individual goals. Besides, information sharing, goal setting, active listening, collaborative problem solving are some common ways to achieve a successful team.

The Bottom Line                                                                                                                                     

The educational system desperately needs quality leaders to control and manage the overall educational processes effectively. They can be students representing other students, teachers attentively listening and reacting to different situations, or a principal taking essential decisions to better the entire institution. Without their intervention, the learning process can never be successful. Their excellent communication and problem-solving skills help many set out on the path of success.

During the devastating attack of 9/11, America lost 3,000 human lives. There was also much damage to critical infrastructure, and the nation suffered from trauma and loss. Within eleven days of the attack, the Department of Homeland Security was born. Later, the United States Congress passed the Homeland Security Act to quell the fear and strengthen the security within and outside the borders.

Through this initiative, the government wanted to reduce the effect of terrorism and protect its national borders. It also started to work on immigration laws and cybersecurity. America also needed a quick response to emergencies and natural disasters. Initially, the Director of the Office of Homeland Security worked alone. However, by 2002 the Department of Homeland Security official came into being. It is a stand-alone Cabinet department that tries to unify the homeland security effort. The end goal of the office is to plan a comprehensive strategy. They also want to regulate the response against future attacks of any kind.

Since the mission is to prevent attacks on the land, sea, and air, the seal symbolizes this sentiment. The white eagle on the seal holds a branch in one talon and arrows in the other. It shows that the department will work unlike other agencies to secure the nation.

This whole scenario brought a considerable demand for candidates who can work in this field. So, those who want to work in this must have the right skills and education to fulfill their needs.

But, what is homeland security?

Four components of Homeland Security:

There are four components of homeland security as it is a holistic concept. The Department of Homeland Security aims to strengthen all of these components to safeguard the nation.

• Counterterrorism:

Terrorists are using complex methods and strategies to infiltrate nations. The threats are evolving, and their modus operandi is changing.

So, the fundamental goals of counterterrorism hinge on five points.

1. The first one is to gather intelligence on the enemy and then share the information with respective authorities.
2. The second priority is to identify terrorist plans and how to prevent them from taking place.
3. Thirdly, the agents have to defend leaders and higher rank officers first.
4. Later they move on to securing soft targets, such as commercial centers and government facilities.
5. Lastly, they must try to neutralize rogue nations and non-state actors. These individuals should never get their hands on weapons of mass destruction.

• Immigration, Border Security and Human Trafficking:

Any nation without a strict border enforcement agency is unsafe. Therefore, homeland security controls the air and maritime borders of the country. They try to intercept illegal goods and immigration and prevent criminal activity. Along with physical barriers, the government uses technology to crack down on the narcotics trade.

• Cybersecurity:

If you look at any country, you will realize it relies on its security system. Cyberspace is where countries conduct transactions worth billions of dollars. So, an attack on this platform can hypothetically make any nation handicapped. Therefore, the homeland security department tries to secure the database and keeps it confidential.

• Disaster preparedness:

Once disaster strikes, a nation must know how to handle it. Therefore, government agencies must know how to respond in these situations to limit the damage. They must also minimize the loss of lives and mitigate the risks.

Protecting a whole nation is a challenge. The way to a career in homeland security is not straightforward.

How to join Homeland Security?

1. Get the skills and training: The first step is to get the necessary training and education. Recent grads and students can intern with the department to get a taste of things. Go through their website and apply for a position.
2. Take a course in a relevant subject: Criminology, criminal justice, and forensics are some of the most popular for the DHS. Enroll in a post-secondary program and then include this information in your application.
3. Get experience in law enforcement: Although it is not mandatory, prior experience in law enforcement will improve your chances of getting recruited. Such positions also help you polish your skills and train you for the job.
4. Choose your roles according to your goals: It is time to narrow your job search according to your goals. For a human resource position, look into mission support roles like budget planning and medical studies. Law enforcement is ideal for those who want to work in security. Consider a role in travel security for a job in immigration.
5. The application process: Now, you must apply for a job. Open the Homeland Security Website and look for positions based on agency and job category. Match your qualifications and training with the advertisement to confirm that you meet their requirements. Then apply for the role.
6. Interview for the position: You will be invited for an interview if your application is successful. Remember to dress professionally and have a calm demeanor.

You may have to pass a security clearance test before you start your job. Remember that the test may take up to 3 months to complete depending on the level of clearance. After that, you will get approval for hiring and get started.

Conclusion:

Protecting the nation is not an easy job. It requires a lot of grit, perseverance, and commitment. And unlike other careers, you cannot leave this profession any time you feel like it. Therefore, think long and hard before you make any decisions. Once you have made up your mind to work in this sector, focus on your profile.

 

Rapid advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) drastically changed the way things are moving today. However, we will speak about this topic by approaching it from three different perspectives.

AI is defined as the science and engineering of developing intelligent machines and intelligent computer programs. More so, relatable to similar tasks such as utilizing computers to understand the human brain.

To be precise, AI is formulating a discipline that can teach the system to start thinking and reasoning like humans do. Although AI has been a technology of discussion in the 21^st century, it is now currently used to reduce repetitive tasks and solve complex problems.

If you’re still unsure about what AI can do, you may proceed and read on about the technology. The way we’ll be explaining the technology can be easily perceived by students, professionals, and even scientists. Here we go…

Perspective 1: AI as explained to elementary students

Have you come to imagine having a machine arrange your closet the way you want it to be as soon as you walk through it or have it serve refreshments during parties when you’re at home? Isn’t it astonishing to have a robot do your daily tasks for you? So, if you’re thinking about the theory behind what makes it possible for machines to behave the way we want it to, then perhaps, you need to thank AI. AI is the technology that makes such happenings easy. How does it do it? Well, with the help of mathematical functions and AI algorithms. The technology provides the machine with information similar to which a human performs on a daily basis like giving you soccer lessons or even dance lessons.

With AI, machines have the ability to easily learn, reason, and even solve problems the way a human can do. These elements are what make robots artificially intelligent.

Perspective 2: AI as explained to professionals

AI simply functions using a large amount of data which is fast, efficient and also enables intelligent algorithms to learn and identify patterns from past history. The major aim of AI is to be able to develop systems that can function on their own and not depend on the human. For instance, sectors such as factories and construction sites. Such places can have intelligent robots doing the jobs.

The major subfield of AI includes:

Natural language processing (NLP)

NLP helps computers understand, analyze, and generate speech (human language). Some of the popular products known to all are Alexa or Google voice, also called voice assistant.

• Cognitive computing: is a human-based interaction that aims at simulating human thoughts. Now with AI and cognitive computing, machines can easily simulate human processes by interpreting images and speech. Some of the best examples include – autonomous vehicles like Nuro, Zoox, and Cruise.
• Neural network: is machine-based learning that encompasses interconnected unit i.e. neurons that helps process and transmit information.

To be able to understand the functionality and how AI works, the AI professional or AI engineer needs to have considerable knowledge of the technology. And with AI becoming the next tech revolution, it is advisable to pursue a career in the field.

Perspective 3: AI as explained to scientists

Scientists have their way of comprehending or understanding things. As we’re all aware, AI is a technology that helps machines make the lives of human beings much easier. Therefore, to make this discussion more interesting, we will be comparing technology with humans and see how they interact with each other. However, to proceed with this explanation, we need to consider certain points:

• Limited memory: To make decisions, machines use past and present history. And since such information needs to be stored, it can only store this information up to a certain period. Therefore, the storage capacity is limited. A perfect example is autonomous cars.
• Purely reactive: Machines are not capable to form memories; thus, they are not capable of using such experience to make decisions. Such machines can only make predictions based on certain parameters. Deep Blue, an IBM-made supercomputer well known to defeat chess grandmaster, also the world champion Garri Kasparov in 1997 is one perfect example.
• Self-awareness: Machines here are aware of themselves, thus are able to recognize internal states when surrounded by a particular environment. In such cases, machines are not only capable of predicting behavior but emotions as well.
• Theory of the mind: In such an instance, AI ensures that the machine is capable of emulating the learning process as humans do. The classification of such machines is more advanced. Thus, can express and process emotions. In theory, the knowledge of knowing what emotions are helps them predict their next step and adjust according to the behavior.

Perhaps we’re now clear as to how AI and machine learning functions as a whole. With these definitions, it gets easier to understand the technology from three different perspectives.

In a nutshell, AI has the potential to reshape career opportunities and change the world for good.

In today’s fast-paced world, getting a bachelor’s degree to stand out from the rest seems old-fashioned to many students. The advent of skilled-oriented short courses and the extensive marketing by private institutes have undermined the value of four years of a bachelor’s degree for students of the modern era. But the reality remains in contrast to what is being marketed on screens, as organizations still prefer a graduate, specifically on the positions that require responsibility and commitment.

For most students, job security and a good lifestyle are the ultimate goals they want to achieve through certified education. However, to accomplish this, they must have time management skills, teamwork, self-motivation, leadership qualities, and more that can only develop during their university life.

Moreover, a bachelor’s degree is not only about performing lengthy coursework and presentations. A bachelor’s degree is a wholesome training set that polishes the students’ vital interpersonal skills, which they would need on countless occasions throughout their lifetime.

This article presents some of the most crucial aspects of getting a bachelor’s degree in today’s highly competitive world.

1. Increased Access to Job Opportunities

A bachelor’s degree increases your chances of getting higher, especially among those without it. The job opportunities for bachelor’s degree holders are almost 60 percent higher than non-graduates do. Most companies consider people with post-secondary education as more professionally sound in academics.

If you’re wondering how long does it take to get a bachelor’s degree, the simple answer is three to four years. After this period, a graduate degree qualifies an individual for more flexible opportunities in the industry. Moreover, the bachelor’s degree holders are a priority on new job positions. Still, they are also preferred on roles that value experience with education. According to a BLS survey, more than 55 percent of the jobs posted online require a minimum bachelor’s degree to apply for it. Furthermore, for 80 percent of people using the internet, online platforms are the only source of searching for job vacancies. It means that if they do not match the criteria in the first phase, the chances of their application rejected are very high.

2. Preparation for a Specialized Career

Industries across the world are evolving at a pace like never before. Due to the widespread interference of technology in every sector, organizational roles now demand candidates to have multi-dimensional education.

A bachelor’s degree will not only assist you in diverse areas of your work. Still, it will also give you the command over subject-specific skills. No matter what route you take for your graduate degree, each one will prepare you on various subjects and qualities during the timeline. For example, a health degree, which is designed primarily to cover your profession’s clinical aspects, will also train you on the subjects of management and leadership. Thus, it increases the prospects to advance more rapidly in your career.

3. Increased Marketability

A bachelor’s degree increases the prospects of your demand a great deal. It serves as a solid foundation for your professional career. You can build forward your set of skills by gaining other professional certificates.

During the years a student spends while earning a bachelor’s degree, you will gain skills to give you a competitive advantage. Employers worldwide highly value skills such as exceptional communication, resource management, critical analysis, and others.

Coursework that is part of your bachelor’s degree program prepares you vigorously on interpersonal traits and organizational skills that make you a preferred candidate for employers.

4. Increased Earning Potential

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the higher the level of education an individual has, the higher his chances are to get employed and earn decently. Moreover, if we look at the difference between graduate and non-graduate individuals’ salaries, we notice a striking gap. People who do not have a diploma can earn $500 per week on average, while those who have earned a high school diploma earn up to $700 per week.

Moreover, let’s move forward towards those having an associate degree. Their average salary ranges between $800 and $900 per week. On the other hand, a bachelor’s degree increases your pay scale substantially to up to $1,100 per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Let’s compare the same stats on an annual basis. We see a shocking difference between the salaries of diploma holders, associate degree holders, and those with a bachelor’s degree. People with a bachelor’s degree earn approximately $18,000 more than associate degree holders and up to $25,000 above those with a high school diploma.

5. Economic Stability

Looking at employment statistics in the last decade, we find that almost 95 percent of professional industries’ jobs have gone to university graduates. On the contrary, the jobs demanding a minimum high school diploma have not grown significantly compared to those requiring bachelor’s degree holders. It means that a bachelor’s degree gives you a much better employment opportunity than a diploma or an associate degree. In the year 2019, the unemployment rate of bachelor’s graduates was less than 6 percent, while over 12 percent of high school diploma holders remained unemployed.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking to advance in your professional life or want to create more opportunities to excel in education, you would need at least a bachelor’s degree. It will ensure you a secure future in today’s highly competitive market and provide you ample room to explore the industry.

Have you ever thought about what the world would be like if there were no one to turn to for advice? Who would we approach and ask for help or opinion if no one was willing to provide it? Wouldn’t it be a lonely, distressing world? Even the thought of it gives us chills. Such is the importance of seeking counseling whenever needed in life.

The figures and estimates in this regard are indeed staggering. According to the 2019 estimates, more than 40 million adults seek counseling services in the US alone. It is comprehensible what the situation is like during the current outbreak of COVID-19. Given the constant fear of catching the virus and the lockdown’s effects, seeking some advice has been commonplace.

It makes a counselor’s job quite interesting, satisfying, and rewarding. They tend to listen to people and strive to resolve their issues. They try to get to the core of the problem and bring forth any possible solutions. They are the ones to provide professional advice to distressed, anxious patients.

Interesting, right? The above details make us think of becoming a counselor. Well, the fact is becoming a counselor isn’t that difficult. But there’s a particular criterion for it. The first on the list is academics, as a professional adviser must have complete educational proficiency. The only question is what program individuals should choose at the crucial decision-making phase.

The minimum requirement to gain academic proficiency is to opt for a Master’s degree. In this regard, an online Master’s is beneficial for two main reasons. Firstly, you don’t have to step outside, keeping you safe from the Coronavirus. Secondly, you can skip GRE by studying online, which stands for Graduate Record Exam, required by conventional programs. So, for an online masters in counseling no GRE should be the choice.

In terms of being a student, you will also realize the need to have a counselor by your side. Why? That’s what we will discuss in this article.

1. Psychological Wellbeing

Considering this subject from a psychological point of view opens new avenues of thoughtfulness. Every individual, especially in distress, needs a kind listening ear, talking to and telling them about the worries. Whenever it happens, a process of catharsis begins.

That is when we could exhale all the negative energy and start to feel renewed. A counselor realizes such a need of the students and steps forward to address it. They hold sessions with them to reach conclusive answers and identify the root cause. It helps the students remain mentally sound.

2. Career Guidance

One of the most important things the counselors help the students with is career guidance. Those who seek advice at this point usually want to know about their next move, which is the college. It’s known as vocational training; wherein a counselor provides step-by-step college admission details.

But the advisers don’t just provide counseling; they do so with a specific focus on providing them the proper career guidance. The advisers let the students know about the possible impact of decisions on their professional careers. Due to their timely mentoring, the youth can take the right steps.

3. Situation Handling

Another equally and immensely aspect of counseling is training students with the skill to handle certain difficult situations. As a student, youth may come across to circumstances that they might find challenging to deal with. These are mainly related to conflicts with peers, which can sometimes be critical.

Situation handling is also about how a student may overcome the issues to attain better grades. Their counselor may talk to them to remove the hurdles impeding their progress, resulting in improved performance. It makes the task highly crucial and worth considering.

4. School Management

Let us face it; we all need someone close to share our problems. We all have this one sibling or special friend to let out what we may have been holding inside for too long. Getting in touch with a counselor can help in such situations. The expert enables students to say what they can’t even reveal to their parents or guardians.

An adviser spends quality time with the student, convincing them that they can share their thoughts. The youth may then share whether they are uncomfortable with a particular teacher or what they find disturbing on the campus. When rightly done, the approach can put the students back on track.

5. Special Needs Care

Caring for those with special needs is one of the noble causes, and the counselors are aware of it. They often opt for specialized training to identify if something is wrong with the student requiring special needs. The challenge for them is the integration of the new student into the classroom.

The advisers also act as the in-charge of a particular program launched for the special needs students. They even step forward to remove the learning difficulties and enable students to participate equally inside the class. It’s also important to ensure the students participate in extracurricular activities.

Final Thoughts

Academic life is full of challenges as students stand at a critical juncture that can change their lives. In such a situation, they look up to others for guidance and recommendations. It makes the counselor’s role essential in shaping students’ meaningful thoughts. The role is widely diverse; however, the points discussed encompass most of it. It is vital for an adviser to know about the strategies to perform their job well as they can create tomorrow’s leaders.

Creativity is a trait that does not come easily. Some people are born creative, but for most, acquiring this quality requires tedious learning and exploring habits. Everything in this universe is art, driven by the mathematics of ideas and compassion. And once we begin to value the art around us, we develop the innate qualities of creativity and innovation. We appreciate what was before us and what awaits us. We yearn for a deeper understanding of things that ignites our creative abilities, making it easier for us to comprehend the earth’s secrets.

The process of creativity sparks with imagination. So, when we can imagine things, we are later able to find ways to create them. Whether it be technology, architecture, law, or any other subject, creativity leads to fascinating inventions and innovations.

Therefore, to uplift our generation in the realms of creativity, we must invest in them by creating the learning opportunities that could teach such skills in them.

In this article, we look deeper into the facets of creativity; and how educators can foster these skills in students.

1. Gather Knowledge on Subjects of Interest

To start your journey, you must possess some information on topics of interest to base your creative yearnings. Just as the computer requires data to process into output, the human brain also needs information to constitute a unique idea.

For instance, if you have an interest in history, start gathering knowledge about it. To go further in this field, you can search for an online bachelors degree in history, which can help you gather more knowledge.

2. Consider Simple Solutions to Complex Problems

Most often, we ignore the simplest solution to a problem that has long been eating our brains. When people see a complex problem that seems challenging for the masses, they automatically conclude that its solution would also be complicated. But surprisingly, the approach should be the other way around in most scenarios. To develop creativity, you should enhance your focus while ignoring external agents during your thought process. Work on finding simple and straightforward solutions to problems rather than contemplating over something that is not there.

3. Train Your Mind to Brainstorm

Jumping to conclusions is not a sign of a creative and wise person. But unfortunately, this is what most people do. Whenever you come across a mentally challenging situation, take a breather, and look for every possibility. Some complex situations demand you to think outside the box. By making it your practice, you can improve your critical thinking and become strong in your thought process.

Once you have mastered the trait of perspective thinking, try looking into matters from others’ viewpoints. This way, you can also gain intuitive qualities and predict others’ moves in a specific situation. While it seems easy reading about all this, training your mind to think intuitively is challenging and takes time to develop.

But once you have achieved this trait, you will be able to brainstorm quickly and accurately in a given situation.

4. Learn to Connect the Dots

One of the crucial aspects of creative thinking is the ability to connect the dots. If you can connect the right dots quickly, you would distinguish the path that leads to the solution. To begin practicing this in your daily life, you read various ideas on a specific topic, evaluate them thoroughly, and discard the alien concepts.

5. Be the Devil’s Advocate

While working on a lengthy project, it is essential to effectively process all the possible solutions and be a devil’s advocate of your own. The more you test your ideas, the more reliable and flawless they will become. Similarly, rigorous testing of ideas will enlighten you on all its bad and useful aspects, leading you to a concrete facts-based conclusion.

6. Accept New Ideas Break the Shackles of Fear

Suppose you have a timid personality who is afraid of embarking on a journey in the realms of the unknown, then sorry. In that case, you can never become creative in your lifetime. Creative thinkers are all-time ready to try new things and willing to take on challenges. The reason why most people lose their creative flair with time is their fear of losing their selves to the reactions of the people. They develop a sense of insecurity while putting forward their ideas and thus become inept. Try to build a habit of trying new things and experimenting with unique ideas. As it is the only way, you can back yourself in your quest for creativity and innovation.

7. Become an Active Listener

A creative person is always an active listener. He appreciates the opinion of others with an open heart and does not feel provoked by disagreements. This quality enables a person to participate in group brainstorming sessions, where everyone shares his or her ideas independently. These sessions improve one’s creative and innovative skills and make him or her a good communicator.

8. See Things with a Different Perspective

It is mandatory to change your mundane lifestyle, start experimenting with new things and see them differently. Otherwise, all your efforts and aspirations will go in vain. Instead of pressing yourself all the time for answers, begin to question things with newer perspectives.

Furthermore, you can work on the techniques of mind mapping to boost your creative skills. Mind mapping is a strategy that links information from different resources to a central topic. Unlike taking notes, you can do mind mapping by remembering things against specific colors or images. In other words, you are using images and colors as codes to access a memory box.

Some of the pioneers of intelligence, such as Einstein, have used this neuro graphical technique throughout their lifetime. It will forever remain the most intuitive technique to boost creativity.

Conclusion

Students are often scolded for daydreaming since it is considered a sign of laziness. But science tells us that this stereotype is not true. Instead, it should be associated with creativity. An individual with more creative skills tends to daydream more often than others, as their mind is always questioning whatever is happening around them.

Therefore, instead of restricting your habits that lead to a creative lifestyle, you should improve them. Do not be afraid of exploring new things and keep challenging yourself with the unknown. All these elements combined with your genuine efforts would eventually fill your life with innovation and creativity.

Prime numbers are one of the most important concepts of mathematics, and it has numerous applications in the real world such as cryptography, card security and so on. In Mathematics, every number is made up by multiplying prime numbers. We can find out what prime numbers make an original number by using prime factorization.

Prime Factorisation is an interesting concept. It lets you find the factors of a number. In fact, each and every number is a product of its prime. The concept of prime factorization of a number is quite simple. Once students get accustomed to the concept, they enjoy solving it. In this blog, we will cover the topic of prime factorization and list out various interesting ways to find the factors of a given number.

Let’s dive in then!

Prime Factorization – Definition

The process of finding out the prime numbers which make an original number is known as prime factorization. We can find the prime factorization of a given number by various methods. Prime Factorisation is basically performed on composite numbers in order to find its prime factors. It is also used in finding the LCM  ( Least Common Multiple ) and the HCF or GCF ( Highest or Greatest Common Factor.

In this blog, we will go through some of these methods in order to get a crystal clear understanding of the concept of Prime Factorisation.

Methods to Find Prime Factorization

Division Method

In this method, we find out the prime factors of a given number by using the following steps :

• Step – 1: We first divide the given number by the smallest prime number, which divides this number exactly. E.g. 320/2 = 160
• Step- 2: Now, we need to divide this quotient by the smallest prime number. Following the above example, we now have 160/2 = 90
• Step 3: We now repeat step-2 until the quotient is one. (Upon following this, we get six times the multiple of 2 and one time 5)
• Step 4: We can now see all the prime factors in multiples. i.e. 320 = 26 x 5

Factor Tree Method

In order to find the prime factorization by factor tree method, we need to follow the following steps:

• Step 1: The first step is imagination. You need to imagine this number as a root of a tree. Let’s assume the number is 24.
• Step 2:  Now write down any two factors of that tree. The pair of factors needs to be listed below the number which we considered as the root of that tree. The pair of composite factors for 24, in this case, is 6 and 4
• Step 3: The listed two factors of the given number needs to factorize. Once you factorize the given number, list down the composite factors below the factors. Upon factorization of 6 and 4, we get its factors (2,3) and (2,2) respectively.
• Step 4: Step-3 is repeated until we find the prime factors of the composite numbers in the above steps. From our example, we do not need any further factorization as per our example as we have already got the product of primes.

The factor tree method is simple and fun! You just need to find two composite factors of a number and the rest steps follow through. I hope you enjoyed learning Prime Factorisation with the help of these methods. Cuemath is an online learning platform that helps you understand these methods with the help of visual tools that can help you develop rock-solid concepts.

I hope this blog helped you understand how to find the prime factorization of a given number. Remember, regular practice of these methods can be beneficial in the long run as it gives you a speed boost and keeps you way ahead in the game! Happy Learning.