Research and Information-Gathering Activities (FY2025)
・Lifelong Learning
・Internationalisation of Higher Education
・Digitalisation and AI in Higher Education
・AGI and the Singularity
During FY2025, the Educational Research Foundation (ERF) conducted research and collected information on major developments shaping the future of higher education. Particular attention was given to lifelong learning, the internationalisation of higher education, the digital transformation of universities, the growing impact of artificial intelligence, and emerging discussions surrounding Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the Singularity.
Lifelong Learning
As demographic decline continues to affect higher education systems worldwide, universities are increasingly expected to play a broader role in lifelong learning. In Japan, the participation rate of adult learners in higher education remains relatively low compared with many Western countries, creating a need for more flexible and accessible learning opportunities.
ERF monitored international policy developments, including the United Kingdom’s Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), which will allow learners to access higher education flexibly through modular study from 2026. The Foundation also examined European initiatives promoting micro-credentials, reskilling and upskilling, as well as the integration of lifelong learning into the European Universities Initiative.
Research further explored the growing importance of interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and liberal arts education in an era increasingly shaped by AI and digital technologies.
Internationalisation of Higher Education
The Foundation continued to investigate evolving models of internationalisation in higher education. While student mobility remains important, increasing attention is being given to long-term institutional partnerships, joint programmes, virtual exchange, and hybrid mobility.
Particular focus was placed on developments within the European Universities Initiative, ongoing discussions concerning the European Degree, and the expansion of joint micro-credentials. The Foundation also examined policy developments within Erasmus+, including its growing emphasis on lifelong learning, digital skills, AI-related competencies, and green transition priorities.
In addition, ERF monitored discussions on the future of internationalization in the AI era, including virtual exchange, internationalisation at home, and emerging forms of digital diplomacy.
Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
The rapid advancement of AI and digital technologies continues to transform teaching, research, and university management. The widespread adoption of generative AI has created new opportunities for learning support, content development, research assistance, and student services.
ERF examined policy developments related to the European Union’s Digital Education Action Plan and the increasing focus on digital infrastructure, interoperability, AI governance, and digital competencies within higher education institutions.
Particular attention was given to ethical considerations, academic integrity, AI literacy, and the responsible adoption of AI in universities. The Foundation also investigated emerging educational approaches such as hybrid learning, learning analytics, virtual exchange, and personalized learning supported by AI and ICT.
AGI and the Singularity
The Foundation continued its exploration of developments in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the broader debate surrounding the technological Singularity.
As advances in AI accelerate, questions regarding the future of work, higher education, human cognition, and social institutions are becoming increasingly significant. ERF reviewed major international discussions and future scenarios concerning AGI, its potential societal impacts, and the ethical challenges associated with increasingly powerful AI systems.
Through these activities, ERF seeks to contribute to informed dialogue on the future of higher education and to promote international research and collaboration in addressing the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing world.