Lifelong learning becomes essential as professional skills face rapid obsolescence

The concept of education is shifting from a finite phase of life to a continuous process known as lifelong learning. This transition is driven by rapid technological advancements, digitalization, and demographic changes that shorten the useful life of professional skills.

The World Economic Forum estimates that 39 per cent of workers’ core skills will change or become outdated between 2025 and 2030, suggesting that a majority of the global workforce will require training by the end of the decade. The OECD identifies critical learning moments spanning from early childhood through retirement to build resilient societies.

On a community level, initiatives like the Wyndham Learning Festival celebrate this concept through free local events. The festival, which is entering its second decade, focuses on diverse interests ranging from new technologies like artificial intelligence to personal wellbeing and business development, helping individuals adapt to changing workplace demands.