The Future of Lifelong and Executive Education
Lifelong and executive education are becoming increasingly important components of the higher education offer. Of course, none of this is new. Lifelong learning through summer schools and continuing education departments, and executive education, especially in business schools, have both been features at many institutions for decades.
However, the demand for both has been changing and accelerating. COVID produced an explosion of online learning offers, AI is driving a need for those in work to rapidly acquire new skills, and birth rates are falling in many parts of the world, putting pressure on undergraduate enrolments. Universities and business schools need to be clear how to respond, making lifelong and executive education a central part of their strategy.
The Future of Lifelong and Executive Education report 2026 provides institutions with the data and insights to help them move forward and develop their offer. The third in a series of studies that stretches back over the past five years, the new report draws on the views of more than 9,000 individuals and 1,000 employers across more than 30 countries.
Three key themes emerge in the study – be fast, be flexible and be fabulous. If universities and business schools are to thrive in the lifelong and executive education marketplace, where commercial competition is intense, they need to be quick to respond and, in some cases, quick to deliver as well. Corporates expect a rapid response to their enquiries, individuals don’t want to wait six months to start their studies and often want, at least initially, to gain new knowledge fast.
Both employers and individuals want flexibility, to get learning that can flex to meet corporate needs, not something that is simply off-the-shelf, while individuals expect courses that work around their busy, and sometimes chaotic, lifestyles. And the experience needs to be fabulous, whether that’s the customer service, the quality and impact of the learning, and an experience that leaves learners wanting more.
A free executive summary of the report is available to download by clicking on the link to the right. You can purchase the full report on this page with a credit card by clicking on the PayPal link or email us, and we will send an invoice. The full report costs £850 (+VAT where applicable), and the report will be emailed to you once CarringtonCrisp receives your order.
If you’re thinking about the next steps in your provision of lifelong and executive education, do get in touch by email at info@carringtoncrisp.com to discover how we can help.
