Skills for Life

Higher education was celebrated as a lifelong journey, with flexible pathways, micro-credentials and recognition of prior learning.

The fifth edition explored how institutions can serve learners at every stage of life, from school leavers to career changers, through short courses, transparent qualifications and fair recognition of what people already know.

Learning no longer stops at graduation, and careers rarely follow one straight line. The edition looked at how institutions can welcome adult learners, working professionals and career changers, and how short courses and micro-credentials can sit alongside traditional degrees. It also stressed the human skills that last: communication, critical thinking, collaboration and the ability to keep learning.

How institutions marked the day

Institutions, student unions and organisations around the world marked the day on campus, online or in a hybrid form, on 19 June or in the days around it. Events held for this theme included:

• A lifelong learning fair presenting short courses, evening programmes and micro-credentials
• A session on the recognition of prior learning and work experience
• Career-change stories told by alumni and adult learners
• A skills workshop on communication, teamwork or digital literacy open to the local community
• A dialogue between employers and academics about the skills that are really needed

Official IHED Agenda

The IHED central organising team held the official event of this edition: a full day of seminars, sessions, conversations and celebration, in person at the host institution and online for participants everywhere. The agenda of the day:

• 09:00 Doors open, registration and coffee in the foyer
• 09:45 Opening ceremony by the host institution and the IHED organising team
• 10:15 Keynote: Learning at every stage of life
• 11:15 Break in the foyer and networking
• 11:45 Panel: Micro-credentials and degrees, partners or rivals?
• 13:00 Lunch
• 14:00 Parallel seminars, in person and online
• 15:30 Workshop: Turning experience into a learning plan
• 16:45 Fireside conversation with students, alumni and the host institution
• 17:30 Celebration: reception and cultural programme
• 18:30 Closing remarks and announcement of the next host

Tell the IHED organising team about your event

Did your institution mark the day with an event? Tell the IHED organising team. Use the registration form on this website and add your institution, the date, the format (on site, online or hybrid) and a short description, so that your event can be listed. The team reviews every submission and publishes approved events on the Events page. Questions? Write to the team through the contact page.