The article is taken from FCI In-Sight Newsletter May 2022, written by Spyros Tsolis, Deputy Education Director.
I had the unique opportunity to attend the “2022 Learning Technologies” Conference & Exhibition in London, UK, on 4 & 5 May 2022, an event which is Europe’s leading showcase of organisational learning and the technology used to support learning at work, where many new terms and trends have been discussed. I had the chance to talk with experts coming from various industries & regions, sharing best practices and exchanging ideas. So, what lies ahead in professional education & learning?
It is evident that our work has changed: remote & hybrid working is now the new norm, supported by the rapid & widespread adoption of new technologies. Moreover, the current global situation, having as dominant issues the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, strengthens the levels of uncertainty in workplaces.
Many industries have seen intensive talent mobility as people demand better & more flexible working conditions. The new working environments are becoming more flexible and adaptable to the needs of employees. This is something that, nowadays, HR functions in most organizations are focusing on.
On the other hand, agility is becoming an essential characteristic of changing environments. Equally, employees need to adjust as the global pandemic demands increased flexibility and skills. In many countries, a considerable number of people have changed jobs. Upskilling and reskilling continue to be critical as we all need to perform new roles and take on new responsibilities.
The question for most learning teams is how to keep employee engagement at high levels. It is evident that poor engagement leads to lost productivity and additional costs (e.g., employee replacement costs). Therefore, offering the best experience is an investment that retains employees and, at the same time, increases productivity.
How do we achieve this? Traditionally, in professional learning environments, we focus on the content and the tools we use to deliver knowledge. Today, there is a growing trend of redefining “content” as anything that helps us to solve real-life problems. In addition, modern educational tools need to help teams rapidly share and curate this readily available content. Furthermore, content needs to become more personalised so that each individual better values it as it is adjusted to specific teams’ needs.
The tools are available. Technology in the learning industry has advanced at an unbelievable pace, offering tools that support any adjustment, whether on a team or person. “LXPs” are now being introduced (Learning Experience Platforms) that, compared to the traditional LMS (Learning Management System), focus on the ability to facilitate personalised training. Immersive Learning Technologies (e.g., Metaverse), although in many instances still “buzzwords,” are becoming the essential discussion points expected to become part of the whole process.
The new learning environments are expected to be much more interactive, not a single point of learning, but rather collaborative community-based learning, where best practice learning and employee engagement are linked with workplace productivity, erasing any digital fatigue, keeping performances at high levels.
The above are real challenges that many companies are coming across to sustain their growth and positive performance. Learning & HR teams are redesigning their policies, including learning methods, incorporating many of the new trends described above. It is expected to be a process that will require enough resources, both human and, most importantly, financial.
FCI Academy is also aligned with these new trends and closely follows all developments. Our ongoing projects focus on creating a learning environment where user experience is further augmented, is more collaborative, and serves as a driver for the growth of our industry. In a few months, the new version of our LMS is expected to go live. Moreover, we shall move forward with restructuring our e-learning courses & certification programmes, all accredited by International Academic Institutions, and introducing new courses covering topics related to our industry. Furthermore, enhanced regional adaptation and a more personalised offering are on our short-term plans