Earl Buford Speaks at Stanford ‘Building a Learning Society’ Launch Event

On September 16, CAEL President Earl Buford addressed a webinar marking the culmination report of the Stanford Center on Longevity’s Futures Project on Education and Learning for Longer Lives: Building a Learning Society: Design Principles for Human-Capital Investment, 2025–2035. The discussion also included several other experts in workforce development, education, and training. 

More than 30 Futures Fellows, including CAEL’s Dr. Gloria Mwase, contributed to the publication, which calls for reimagining today’s “schooled society,” a status quo made possible by a remarkable achievement of the past century, as a “learning society.” Much like the space race prompted a massive investment in higher education, technological changes and AI proliferation in the present day should prompt its own investment in human talent, argues the report.

The learning society concept resonates with CAEL’s mission in several ways. It advocates for looking well beyond the classroom to recognize and reward learning. It also recognizes the need for on- and off-ramps throughout lifelong learning and career changes and the diversity of organizations—not just higher ed providers—needed for their effectiveness. 

In his remarks during the kickoff event, Buford stressed that one of the greatest opportunities to bring the learning society concept to fruition is leveraging the potential of employers in support of lifelong learning. Moreover, even as awareness and appreciation grow for the learning that occurs outside of higher ed, there is no reason theory and practice can't come together to sustain the best of both worlds.

As an example, Buford told participants about CAEL’s work in bringing together the Machinists Institute and Renton Technical College to create a fully integrated associate degree and registered apprenticeship program. The pathway allows students to simultaneously complete a registered machinist apprenticeship and an associate of applied science in multi-occupational trades.

Buford also stressed the need for a convening force to marshal the individual efforts of diverse niches in the workforce ecosystem, whether a regional or local one. He went on to explain that using multiple strategies, including employer surveys, to gain insights from employers about their needs has been a major success factor in CAEL’s work to identify the gaps and opportunities related to talent needs, credentialing, and other critical points of alignment between education and employment. 

The full report and webinar recording are available at learningsociety.io.

Want to learn more about the Learning Society? Join the next seminar on Tuesday, September 30, where we will discuss how the Learning Society can and should reshape the life course. For more information, see https://stanford.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9VU_xrh4RD2qdUEQZYDkMA#/registration