In today’s global education landscape, the role of continuing education (CE) in fostering student mobility and career progression is more critical than ever. A recent pre-Convergence webinar we hosted with Online Workforce College and the University of St Andrews explored how institutions across the US and the UK are leveraging alternative credentials to enhance lifelong learning and improve quality of life for learners who are embracing the lifelong learning mindset. These same speakers also presented during Convergence 2024, where they expanded on these themes and shared additional insights. You can find our reflections and learnings from the Convergence 2024 conference in an article published by UPCEA.

Key Differences and Similarities

While there are unique challenges on both sides of the Atlantic, there is a shared goal: providing flexible, accessible learning pathways. In the US, the focus is on microcredentials as a means to accelerate career transitions and address the skills gap in high-demand industries. Meanwhile, UK institutions are increasingly emphasizing stackable learning opportunities that align with professional qualifications, ensuring learners can advance step-by-step in their careers.

Both regions recognize the necessity of designing programs that allow learners to balance personal and professional commitments. Digital learning platforms play a pivotal role here, offering a seamless, accessible way to upskill. This trend is crucial for enhancing student mobility, allowing learners to transition between educational programs and job roles more easily.

Key Takeaways for Institutions

The convergence of these approaches shows a clear trend: continuing education is no longer just about offering courses—it’s about creating opportunities for lifelong learning that enhance not only employability but also overall quality of life due to new opportunities that open up in the learners’ lives. By focusing on the transferability of skills and lowering the barriers to learning, institutions can play a transformative role in helping learners thrive in a rapidly changing world.

As these insights demonstrate, cross-border collaboration offers rich opportunities for shared learning and innovation. Both US and UK institutions have much to learn from one another, and have the unique ability to share meaningful insights in their pursuit of creating lifelong, flexible learning pathways that support student mobility, career progression, and continuous personal growth.

If you’d like to dive deeper into these insights, you can access the full webinar for more details and perspectives from our panelists: