Cardiff University launches new approach to lifelong learning to help people develop skills and adapt to changing careers
21 September 2026
Cardiff University is launching a new Institute for Flexible Lifelong Learning to help people access high-quality education at different stages of their lives.
As technology, workplaces and society continue to evolve at pace, the new Institute will create more opportunities for people to develop new skills, adapt to changing career opportunities, explore personal interests and engage with learning throughout their lives.
Developed in partnership with experts from across the University, the Institute will offer short courses, microcredentials, flexible postgraduate modules, pathways to degrees and fully online Master’s programmes, creating flexible routes into learning for people at every stage of life and career.
Professor Simon Thomson, Director of the Institute for Lifelong Learning said: “How we live and work is changing at pace - AI, new technologies and the transition to a greener economy are just some of the areas reshaping our world. The future isn’t standing still and neither can learning.
“Building on Cardiff’s long and successful history in the field of lifelong learning and professional development, we are creating an approach that recognises learning does not begin and end with a degree. People increasingly need opportunities to upskill, reskill and continue developing throughout their lives.”
We want Cardiff University to be a place people start their lifelong learning journey and can return to, whether they are looking to develop in their current career, move into something new, respond to changes in their industry or simply pursue a subject they care about.
The new Institute will offer courses that can be taken individually and eventually stacked over time, giving learners the freedom to build recognised qualifications in ways that fit around work, family commitments and other responsibilities.
It will also work with employers and organisations to understand emerging skills needs and develop learning that can support workforce development, career progression and productivity.
Professor Thomson added: “This is a flagship initiative for Cardiff that will help expand learners’ choice and agency with increased flexibility. It reflects our belief that learning should be accessible throughout life and responsive to the changing needs of individuals, employers and society.”
In Wales and beyond, more people, organisations and communities will be able to benefit from Cardiff University’s academic excellence through the new Institute - adapting, and growing in a rapidly changing world through flexible, accessible and relevant lifelong learning.
To find out more about the courses available at the Institute for Flexible Lifelong Learning visit its website.
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