September brings two powerful reminders of the value of continuous learning and the people who make it possible: Online Learning Day (September 15) and IT Professionals Day (September 16).

While these observances originated in the U.S., their impact is universal. In today’s digital-first world, accessible learning and skilled technical professionals are essential everywhere, and IEEE is proud to support that mission.

Why Online Learning Matters—Now More Than Ever

Online learning day celebrates how digital education breaks down barriers and expands access to knowledge. For engineers and technical professionals, it’s a reminder that learning is a lifelong journey—not a one-time event.

Online learning has transformed how professionals grow and adapt. It’s no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. The global online education market is projected to reach $203.81 billion by the end of 2025, with over 1.12 billion users expected worldwide by 2029.

Learning retention rates increase by 25-60% through e-learning, compared to just 8-10% with traditional classroom instruction.

This dramatic improvement is largely due to the flexibility and control online learners have—they can revisit materials anytime, learn at their own pace, and reinforce concepts as needed.

Honoring IT Professionals: The Backbone of Innovation

IT Professionals Day recognizes the individuals who keep our digital infrastructure secure, efficient, and resilient. These professionals are essential to every industry, and their expertise drives innovation across borders.

According to forecasts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. tech workforce is projected to grow at twice the rate of the overall labor market over the next decade. This signals a powerful opportunity for IT and other technology professionals!

IEEE supports IT professionals globally through courses that address real-world challenges, from automotive cybersecurity to privacy protection in the digital age. ILN’s content is designed to meet the evolving needs of this critical workforce, wherever they are.

IEEE Learning Network: Online Courses for Engineers and Technical professionals

The IEEE Learning Network (ILN) is a trusted destination for engineers, technologists, and professionals seeking to upskill, stay ahead of emerging trends, and grow their careers. With hundreds of expert-led courses available on demand, ILN offers flexible, high-quality learning tailored to a global audience.

Why Choose ILN?

  • Learn directly from IEEE subject matter experts
  • Earn CEUs and PDHs for professional development
  • Explore trending topics like AI, cybersecurity, smart grid standards, and more
  • Access content anytime, anywhere – on your schedule

Celebrate with 25% Off Online Courses

In celebration of Online Learning Day and IT Professionals Day, IEEE is offering 25% off a curated selection of online courses designed to elevate your skills and expand your expertise.

From AI ethics to distributed energy resources, these courses are built for today’s technical professionals, no matter where they live or work.

Take 25% off select courses from 12–20 September using promo code ILN25 at checkout. Offer ends 20 September at 11:59 PM ET.

Featured course programs include:

Explore the full catalog at IEEE Learning Network and start your learning journey today.

Join us in celebrating lifelong learning and the professionals who power innovation around the world.

Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and celebrated every February since 1951, Engineers Week was established to recognize how much engineers have contributed to society and the critical role that engineering plays in our lives. Celebrated this year from 16-22 February, Engineers Week stands as a reminder of how engineers have changed the world.

A History of Innovation

Throughout history, electrical engineers in particular have been responsible for some of the world’s most pivotal inventions.

Among them, Thomas Edison’s 1,000+ patents throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries included the incandescent light bulb and phonograph. Edison also established electric utilities, which helped make electricity more accessible to homes and businesses. (The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) was also first published in the early 20th century.) Around the same time, Nikola Tesla’s development of AC electrical systems, as well as his invention of the Tesla coil and induction motor, revolutionized telecommunications, power transmission/generation, and wireless technology. In the 1950s, Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce’s joint invention of the integrated circuit led to the miniaturization of electronic devices and the rise of personal computers, smart phones, semiconductors, and modern electronics.

Shaping Society Through Technology

More recently, electrical engineers have driven some of the most important developments shaping society today. These include smart grids, which enable electric utilities to engage in two-way communications with customers and make real-time adjustments, as well as energy storage systems, which promote electric resiliency by allowing for the storage of renewable energy (generated by solar power, wind, etc.) for use at a later time. Popular everyday items such as smart watches, thermostats, fitness trackers, telehealth systems, and many other devices are possible thanks to the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), which enables “connected” devices to collect, analyze, and share data. 

Elsewhere, the recent development and proliferation of electric vehicles aims to help reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Additionally, the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and quantum computing will continue to transform everything from healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation to customer service, banking, gaming, semiconductor design, weather forecasting, and more. This led Time Magazine to identify AI as a major force that will “reshape the world.”

Breakthrough developments like those above – as well as inventions that have yet to be imagined – rely on the technical expertise, vision, and creative efforts of electrical engineers. These professionals serve within a high-demand field worldwide. They can apply their talents to indelibly impact any number of diverse and dynamic industries.

Simply put, the field of engineering is positioned firmly at the edge of innovation, and the efforts of electrical engineers in particular are critical to the operation of modern society.

IEEE: Keeping You at the Forefront

Each year, Engineers Week helps increase public awareness regarding the positive contributions engineers make while also promoting careers in engineering and shining a spotlight on the importance of technical education.

As the professional home for the technology community worldwide for generations, IEEE has long been a renowned source of education in the broad range of fields that it encompasses. In honor of Engineers Week, the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) is offering a 25% discount on some of its most popular course programs. The special discount is available through 11:59 pm ET on 28 February 2025. Simply use code EW25 at checkout!

Eligible course programs include:

Engineers Week is a great time to celebrate the field of engineering and invest in yourself. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn something new while earning professional development credit and digital badges that will enable you to showcase your new skillset!

 

Resources

National Engineers Week. National Today.

Engineers Week. National Society of Professional Engineers.

The Top 20 Famous Engineers Who Shaped the Modern World. Discover Engineering.

Kerwin, Jenna. (31 January 2025). Technology Trends in Electrical Engineering. Excelsior University.

Suleyman, Mustafa. How the AI Revolution Will Reshape the World. Time.

Hamilton, Ilana. (7 February 2024). 5 Careers in Electrical Engineering to Consider. Forbes.

10 Examples of Internet of Things (IoT) in Everyday Life. Nike Oregon Project.

Cloke, Harry. (28 July 2022). 70 Powerful Quotes About Learning to Inspire You! Growth Engineering.

workforce-development-elearning-library

If you think that opportunities for continuing education, training, and development aren’t a major determinant of job satisfaction for employees as well as a key driver of success for organizations, think again.

Nearly two-thirds of employees claim that a lack of opportunities for development and advancement are among the top reasons for leaving their job – nearly on par with too little compensation. Similarly, in another major survey, 43% of employees claim that a lack of advancement opportunities is one of the primary reasons why they quit their last job.

From an employer’s perspective, studies show that the ability to offer employees quality opportunities for continued learning and development is critical to an organization’s growth and success.

Companies that invest in the training and development of their workforce were found to be 17% more productive and over 20% more profitable than those that did not offer such opportunities.

Seven out of ten employees share that opportunities for continued education made them feel more connected and loyal to their workplace, while 80% confirmed that opportunities for learning “add purpose to the work” and enhance feelings of accomplishment and self-actualization. With no surprise, a whopping 94% of employees report that they stay longer at companies that invest in their growth through training and development— proving once again that opportunities for ongoing learning are key to employee retention.

In terms of the skills that will be required in the years to come, continuing education will be increasingly necessary for individuals and organizations alike. It is anticipated that nearly 70% of all workers’ skills worldwide could be disrupted by 2030 due to the growth of artificial intelligence in the workplace, requiring an ongoing focus on skills gap assessments and upskilling activities.

IEEE eLearning Library: Your Go-To Source for Continuing Education

As the world’s largest technology association for the advancement of humanity, IEEE serves as the professional home for the engineering and technical community. One of its many resources, the IEEE eLearning Library, offers hundreds of high-quality online courses in core and emerging technologies. Tailored for technical professionals, faculty, and students, the IEEE eLearning Library taps into a wealth of expertise from IEEE’s global network of over 450,000 industry and academia members in a vast array of subjects ranging from aerospace and defense, automotive technology, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud and edge computing to telecommunications, cybersecurity and data privacy, Internet of Things, power and energy, systems engineering, and much more.

Each course within the IEEE eLearning Library is developed by IEEE Educational Activities in partnership with subject matter experts from various IEEE technical societies and organizational units, some of which include IEEE Power & Energy Society, IEEE Standards Association, IEEE Communications Society, IEEE Digital Privacy Initiative, and more. Courses can be accessed by individuals via the IEEE Learning Network while organizations can offer their employees the full library or a subset of courses pertinent to their needs and/or industry.

Courses are offered in self-paced, digestible hour-long sessions that accommodate learners’ busy schedules, and completion of courses awards microcredentials and digital badges bearing professional development hours (PDHs) and continuing education units (CEUs), enabling professionals to verify and promote their new skills throughout both their organization and the industry.

What’s In It For You?

Organizations and employees can enjoy many benefits by building the IEEE eLearning Library into their continuing education plans.

Among them, the IEEE eLearning Library is an optimal way to deliver standardized training to employees (especially those in different locations) and help position them for growth, development, and career advancement. The results of this investment to an organization include increased employee engagement, improved productivity and performance, enhanced profitability, and greater innovation and industry competitiveness – all while saving money on travel, materials, and instructor costs thanks to the easy online format that employees can access anytime, anywhere.

Whether you want to enhance your knowledge within your own technical field or expand to other technical specialties, the IEEE eLearning Library offers the technical training to meet your and your organization’s needs. Explore access options through IEEE Xplore®, the IEEE Learning Network (ILN), or through your organization’s own Learning Management System.

Contact an IEEE Account Manager to learn more about the best option(s) for you or your organization’s learners today!

If you’re looking to access courses as an individual learner rather than through your company, browse eLearning content from IEEE Educational Activities offered on ILN.

Check out our infographic to learn more about the IEEE eLearning Library. 

 

Resources

Hastwell, Claire. (21 April 2023). Employee Training and Development: The Benefits of Upskilling or Reskilling Your Team. Insights.

Parker, Kim and Horowitz, Juliana Menasce. (9 March 2022). Majority of Workers who Quit a Job in 2021 Cite Low Pay, No Opportunities for Advancement, Feeling Disrespected. Pew Research.

Poll on the Importance of Growth Opportunities to Employee Satisfaction and Career Success. Great Place to Work US. 

Trisca, Lorelei. (12 September 2024). Employee Development Statistics You Need to Know Right Now. Deel.

The State of L&D in 2022. TalentLMS and SHRM Research.

(30 April 2023). The Future of Jobs Report 2023. World Economic Forum.