Research

L&D 2020: Shaping change in learning

Phase 1 Findings

The brave new world of workplace learning

Imagine the world of work in 2020. Flexible working has grown enormously and is now common especially among white collar and professional men - and in manufacturing and construction one in five men work full-time hours over four days rather than five. Moofers (Mobile Out of Office Workers) are those growing numbers of people who don't have a specific place of work; they work in a location best suited to the task in hand - often in restaurants and clubs with designated rooms and office services so moofers can make their deals and recharge themselves and their equipment at any time of day, or night.

These were just some of the possible scenarios proposed in the first stage of an ambitious research project being conducted by TJ and the Institute for Employment Studies; entitled Learning and Development 2020: shaping change in learning the aim the aim of which is to look at what may lie ahead for L&D professionals in the future.

Last year our researchers looked at available data on what our world might look like in 2020 and how L&D might be affected by social, philosophical, scientific and technological change. They posed four key questions:

  • How will changing demographics and workforce mobility affect the nature of learning required?
  • How will the changing nature of business and work affect the type of employee development required?
  • How will developments in neuroscience, psychology and adult education influence how people learn?
  • How will new technologies, communications and social networks support people's development?

From this initial research some scenarios on what workplace learning might look like were devised as a way of exploring future possibilities and results of that work form, Phase 1 of the research and the report entitled L&D 2020: Phase 1 Report, Trends, scenarios and emerging conclusions can be downloaded here

Phase 2 of the project is being generously funded by McDonald's Restaurants Ltd and TrainerBase and is looking more closely at the changing face of the L&D function and the skill sets of learning and development specialists. If you are interested in becoming involved in the research please contact Debbie Carter at debbiecarter@trainingjournal.com for further information.

Society

How will changing demographics and workforce mobility affect the nature of learning required?

Work and Business

Changing nature of business and work.

How will the changing nature of business and work affect the type of employee development required?

Brain and Mind

Developments in psychology, neuroscience and how people learn.

How will developments in neuroscience, psychology and adult education influence how people learn?

Technology

New technologies, communications and online society.

How will new technologies, communications and social networks suppost people's development?