DIY, soft skills, and artificial intelligence

How Technology and Self-Directed Learning Are Shaping the Future of Education?

What if the transformations we are witnessing in education today were not isolated innovations, but part of a global movement that began several years ago?
As early as 2019, a major international study conducted by Pearson among more than 11,000 learners aged 16 to 70 across 19 countries predicted a profound shift in educational models. Its goal was to understand how technology and changing learner expectations would transform education systems and career paths.

The findings were striking: 81% of respondents believed education would become increasingly “self-service,” and 76% thought that virtual learning would surpass traditional formats within ten years. In 2025, these predictions ring especially true, as digital environments, generative AI, and hybrid learning are redefining how teaching and learning take place.

As Pearson noted at the time:

“We are in the midst of the single biggest economic shift since the Industrial Revolution.”

That statement feels more accurate than ever: automation, globalization, human skills, and lifelong learning have now become inseparable.

Eight key trends emerged from this study, and, six years later, they continue to shed light on the ongoing challenges and transformations shaping education worldwide.

1. A “Do it yourself” mindset

While new technologies facilitate access to education, learners are encouraged to teach themselves: they map out their own path, brick by brick. In terms of learning methods, 80% of learners in China, the United States, Australia, and Europe say they prefer short lectures or online tools.

2. Less monolithic careers

The idea of spending 40 years at the same company is outdated. The notion of lifelong learning is developing everywhere: people learn new skills as they need them, which means they have less linear career paths and even change careers a few times.

3. The normalisation of digital and virtual learning

Today’s students consider technology in education to be beneficial, even unavoidable. For example, 70% of Americans believe thet printed books will be obsolete by 2025. In Europe and the United States, 70% think artificial intelligence has a positive impact on education. In China, that figure reaches 90%.

4. Weakened faith in educational institutions

Often considered too expensive and not adapted to the labour market, educational institutions everywhere have faced severe criticism. Whether asked about primary, secondary, or higher education, less than half of Europeans consider their system to be better than that of other countries. Indians and Canadians have the most confidence in their country’s education, with two thirds of students saying they are satisfied.

5. Young workers don’t value college degrees as highly

While statistics show that a college degree is the best guarantee of finding a job, half of American, British, and Australian students from generation Z believe they can do well without one. Vocational and trade schools are gaining ground: 68% of students worldwide believe a certificate from such schools is better than a college degree.

6. Emerging countries lead in terms of skills development

Acquiring new skills seems to be more necessary and more achievable when living in China, India, or Hispano-America. In those countries, two thirds of students have sought to upskill, which is twice as much as in the United States, while less than half the European student population, and a mere quarter of learners in the UK, have sought to do the same.

7. Soft skills are more important than ever

A large majority of students believe humans qualities like creativity, originality, problem-solving, and critical thinking give us an advantage over machines. However, they recognise the importance of technical skills, particularly in “STEM” fields. For example, coding is now considered the « new second language» alongside English.

People expect universities to pay more attention to soft skills: 63% of students report that institutions don’t teach certain skills relevant to the labour market.

8. Student safety is a rising concern

In addition to traditional violence, social media is affecting school safety through cyber bullying. In general, 69% of Europeans and 84% of Americans think schools are less safe than they were 25 years ago.

*The survey differentiates between Europe and the UK, for which Pearson produces separate statistics.