In an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and technological changes, the idea that education happens only at the beginning of a career no longer reflects how people live or work. In an ever-changing labor market, candidates are looking for an edge, and employers are looking for opportunities to attract talent and upskill their employees.
The College of Lifetime Learning at Georgia Tech launched in 2024 to provide accessible, affordable, and transformative opportunities to learners of all ages and across every stage of life.
“We’re moving away from the idea that education simply fills a tank at the beginning of someone’s life,” said Dean William Gaudelli, whose career in education spans four decades as a professor, researcher, and administrator. “Our goal is to create learning systems that support people continuously as the world evolves.”
The Institute’s newest College’s roots date back to the early 1900s when Georgia Tech first began offering continuing education. Today, its offerings begin at the K-12 level, introducing students across Georgia to STEM curricula, and continue with career-focused programming for professionals at every stage of their careers. From certificates and courses spanning dozens of subjects to Tech’s online and hybrid Master’s degree programs, the College is designed to provide students with the flexibility to learn at their own pace and meet their unique goals.
A World Economic Forum study found that 63% of businesses view the skills gap as a primary concern to “future-proofing” their operations, and 59% of the workforce will require re- or upskilling by 2030.
As AI continues to reshape the world, the College is expanding its academic catalog to help learners adapt to technological advancements.
This includes the development of undergraduate and graduate programs, the introduction of a minor in conjunction with the School of Psychology this fall, and the hiring of tenure-track faculty members. The College’s researchers have begun working with several Fortune 100 companies to create individualized programs to empower employees to build businesses around a trade, optimize learning within their organizations, and plan for the changing needs of the future.
“AI is accelerating the pace of change across nearly every industry,” Gaudelli said. “Our responsibility is to create learning systems that will help people continuously adapt, grow, and navigate an increasingly complex world.”
That philosophy extends beyond workplace development and academic coursework. The College’s research initiatives are focused on understanding the optimal conditions for learning, Gaudelli explained, by gathering data and exploring how learners progress, how the environment shapes learners, and strategies that can be adapted across the learning spectrum.
“The future belongs to people who can continue learning, adapting, and applying new knowledge throughout their lives,” Gaudelli said. “That’s the kind of learning society we’re working to build.”
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