Learning is no longer a one-time experience — it is a continuous journey. Technological changes and a rapidly evolving job market require higher education to challenge traditional models and reimagine learning environments to help learners navigate change with confidence.

What does it take to create a world where learning never stops? Forward-thinking educators, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers will gather at the Lifetime Learning Symposium to tackle that question and explore the ideas, innovations, and partnerships shaping the future of learning. This year’s theme, Building a Learning Society, examines how education is evolving from siloed offerings to a continuous ecosystem that equips learners with the skills they need to adapt to shifting industries and opportunities.
 

The Lifelong Value of Adaptability

The event will feature a fireside chat with Georgia Tech Provost Raheem Beyah and College of Lifetime Learning Inaugural Dean Bill Gaudelli. Together, they will discuss one of the most pressing issues facing higher education today: how can universities prepare learners for careers and technologies that are rapidly changing or don't yet exist? The discussion will also examine strategies for expanding access, developing new credentialing models, and responding to workforce shifts driven by artificial intelligence.

“AI is transforming every industry, and higher education must evolve alongside it,” Beyah said. “At Georgia Tech, we believe our responsibility extends beyond preparing students for their first job — we must prepare learners to adapt, grow, and lead throughout their lives.”

As technological advancement accelerates and workforce demands continue to change, educational institutions must transform how learning is delivered to support learners of all ages and professional backgrounds.

"It's no longer a question of whether people will need to keep learning throughout their lives. They absolutely will," Gaudelli said. "The challenge we're now facing is creating systems that make lifetime learning accessible, impactful, and relevant to our constantly changing world."

This future-focused chat will reimagine the role of higher education and explore new approaches to helping students move beyond a four-year degree program and into an environment where learning supports growth at every stage of life.

This year’s conference will also feature sessions on the following topics:

• Activating the Learning Lifecycle
  How institutions design systems that support learning across every stage of life.
• Actualizing Access Through Scale
  How we expand access to high-quality learning without sacrificing impact.
• Authoring the New Credentialing Landscape
  How credentialing evolves to support trust, mobility, and learner agency.
   

Real-World Solutions that Drive Change

The event features sessions that re-examine traditional learning pathways and explore real-world case studies from higher education, industry, and policy. From credential models to scalable programs, attendees will leave the three-day conference with actionable strategies for building a thriving, adaptable, and learner-focused world.

Registration is open for this year’s symposium, taking place Oct. 26 – 28 at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in Atlanta. A registration discount is available for Georgia Tech employees. Register today to join the conversation.
 

Author: Maria Guerra