Istruzione e Formazione
Online learning and skills based education come top of class for majority of UK adults and employers
A major finding of the report is that online learning is the preferred way for people to build their skills today, with of respondents choosing an online learning platform as the number one provider they're most likely to go to in order to learn new skills.
Universities are ranked as the fourth top preference with of respondents choosing this. It was preceded by colleges and accredited training from a brand or tech company .
Online short courses are also the top answer for those considering learning new skills to further their career, with of respondents choosing this. Additionally, have changed their career since the pandemic, and for those who took an online course, said that this helped them achieve the change.
Experts also commented on why online learning remains popular, with , stating:
, said:
While online learning has become an increasingly popular way to widen access to quality education, the report also explores the barriers to education perceived by UK adults. In fact, the report has found that suggest there is at least one factor that could make the learning process more difficult.
The top three factors that most perceive to have a negative impact on individuals throughout their education are: and , with of respondents choosing both, closely followed by . are also perceived issues according to and of respondents respectively.
, commented:
The Future of Learning 2022 Report asks both consumers and employers which skills, if any, they feel are missing from the national curriculum and has found that life skills are most desirable.
The top three skills that both consumers and employers want to see on the curriculum are:
In terms of formal qualifications, the Report has uncovered a similar shift in attitude towards more practical and applied accreditations and microcredentials with both consumers and employers alike.
are cited as one of the top three education-specific qualifications employers look for on their ideal candidate's CV , alongside such as BTECs and T-Levels at number one and at number two. The growth in popularity of Microcredentials is supported by an increasing number of institutes like The Open University, Deakin University , The University of Glasgow and others partnering with FutureLearn to develop over 50 of these stackable accreditations since their launch in 2020, across subjects such as sustainability and teaching, to healthcare and business & management.
Consumers are largely aligned with these expectations around the type of education they believe would land them the job they want, with choosing as the number one route, followed by and .
Download a full copy of The Future of Learning 2022 report here and learn more about FutureLearn here .