# Wales education and lifelong learning developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/wales-education-and-lifelong-learning-developments > Updated: 2026-10-18T11:06:01.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. Educational initiatives in Wales have transitioned from community-focused adult learning programs to a broader strategic review of the higher education sector. In late September, the ‘Adult Learners’ Week’ initiative provided hundreds of free courses across Wales to promote digital literacy, essential skills, and wellbeing. This program, coordinated by the Learning and Work Institute and the Welsh Government, aimed to boost career prospects and confidence among adult learners. By October, the Welsh Government launched a formal Higher Education Review to address challenges in national research and education systems. An independent expert group, chaired by Professor Elizabeth Treasure, was assembled to inform this process. This period also saw the release of Medr’s first annual report, which highlighted over £1 billion in investment in tertiary education and research, supporting more than 320,000 learners. The report noted an increasing need for lifelong learning and retraining to mitigate economic pressures and the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-18: Wales initiates Higher Education Review amid focus on tertiary skills Wales is undergoing a major Higher Education Review as Medr reports over £1 billion invested in tertiary education, highlighting a critical need for lifelong learning and workforce retraining. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wales-initiates-higher-education-review-amid-focus-on-tertiary-skills ### 2026-09-21: Wales to host Adult Learners' Week with free educational opportunities Wales will host Adult Learners' Week from September 21-27, offering free courses in digital literacy, essential skills, and more to support career growth and wellbeing. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wales-to-host-adult-learners-week-with-free-educational-opportunities --- Cite as: Wales education and lifelong learning developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/wales-education-and-lifelong-learning-developments