We live in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. And with technological innovations and advancements disrupting all types of work and industry, the future has become unpredictable. This has several implications for the world of learning and education. Keeping this in mind, how can we prepare ourselves for a world that doesn’t exist yet? And what are the core skills we need to remain relevant in a world in flux?
In education, the concept of lifelong learning has been put forward as a response to this. Lifelong learning refers to the fact that we need to be constantly learning, unlearning, and relearning, throughout the course of our life.
In the past, the idea of going to school and university with the guarantee of a job afterwards held well. But today, this linear model of life and work no longer holds true. Young people today, throughout the course of their lives, will engage in several different industries and functions. And they will engage in industries and functions that may not even exist today. Consider the social media industry, which did not exist 20 years ago. Today, however, it is a multi-billion-dollar industry with a wide range of jobs and functions within it.
My grandfather exemplifies the concept of lifelong learning. He was an academician and researcher until he retired at the age of 58. At this point in his life, he still had fuel. He decided to change careers, studied law, and became a practicing lawyer. He understood the importance of lifelong learning, constantly growing and developing skills to add value to a world that, now, more than ever, needs individuals that can learn new skills through intrinsic motivation.
The concept of lifelong learning has taken global stage not only in the education industry, but in the realm of politics. The United Nations, through its Sustainable Development Goals, has a goal (SDG4) that specifically addresses education. The full title of SDG4 is the following: "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Lifelong learning opportunities for all is the key. The goal is not to provide opportunities for the young, old and everyone in between.
Learning has become ubiquitous and with technology, transcends the limitations of time and space. We are no longer constricted to learning solely at school, university, or any other specific place of learning. We can learn anywhere and at anytime, allowing for lifelong learning.
Humankind faces several challenges such as climate crisis, poverty/inequality, technological disruption, and demographic changes. With these challenges come opportunities too. These opportunities embedded in these challenges call for individuals and societies that are innovative problem solvers. For this, we all need to be resilient and nimble, with the capacity to change with changing times. And this is where an education of lifelong learning is crucial.