For more than a century, universities have been among humanity’s most transformative institutions. They powered the scientific revolution, industrial growth, medical breakthroughs, and the digital economy. They educated generations of leaders and innovators. They shaped the modern world.

But the world they helped create is now changing at unprecedented speed.

Artificial intelligence, automation, demographic shifts, climate pressures, and geopolitical instability are redefining how economies function and how societies hold together. Entire professions are being transformed within a decade. The half-life of knowledge is shrinking dramatically. Skills once considered permanent now require constant renewal.

The assumption that individuals can study intensively for a few years in early adulthood and rely on that knowledge for a lifetime no longer holds.

In the 'Intelligent Age' defined by the rise of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, education cannot remain preparation for life. It must become a continuous condition of life.

Our culture is moving irreversibly from learning for life to lifelong learning. This shift is not incremental. It is structural. And it demands systemic change across national education systems and universities worldwide.

Economic competitiveness increasingly depends on a nation’s capacity to generate advanced skills and innovation at scale. According to recent projections, nearly 40% of today’s core job skills may require significant........

© Time