Our Scans · (LF.4) Quality Education · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• [New] By the year 2026 a hybrid learning model will continue to be used more often. The Case HQ
• [New] The hybrid learning segment is expected to grow at an anticipated CAGR of 12.5% from 2026 to 2034 with the increasing demand for flexibility among nontraditional students, who balance education with work and family responsibilities. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Proteomics adds a further frontier: sparse machine-learning models built on ~3000 plasma proteins improved ten-year risk prediction for dozens of rare and common diseases beyond conventional clinical scores. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The National Geographic Society aims to invest in ocean literacy by funding projects that focus on community-based projects that help people form strong emotional bonds with the ocean and develop or deepen a sense of ocean identity through immersive learning experiences. National Geographic Society
• [New] Tabular foundation models will follow a direct path to productization across SAP AI Core, SAP BDC, and the agentic layer with Joule, enabling in-context learning and instant predictions as part of enterprise AI workflows. Forrester
• [New] The share of older workers will continue to rise in the U.S., putting pressure on sectors such as healthcare, social services, and education. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The best retirement financial literacy and education program in the world will not be effective if employees do not take advantage of opportunities provided. U.S. Office of Personnel Management
• [New] Researchers explored whether putting food at the center of learning could spark young children's interest in science while also learning about nutritious foods grown in North Carolina. Futurity
• [New] Education vertical SaaS shines in 2026 for vocational niches like skilled trades or corporate upskilling, projected to grow 20% as remote work evolves. Appscrip
• [New] In 2026, a lot of schools will be using intelligent learning tools that help make learning more enjoyable and engaging. Techradiance
• [New] In the next few years, many schools across India and around the world will implement VR learning technologies. Techradiance
• [New] Chinese institutions span control theory, machine learning integration, optimisation-based planning, and system validation - indicating a well-funded, distributed research pipeline that may generate significant patent volume in the 2024-2027 period. PatSnap
• [New] New learning strategies are becoming a priority, with two-thirds of US hiring managers stating that workforce development programs are essential for preparing employees for future technological disruptions. Market.us
• [New] The unprecedented pace of AI adoption holds immense potential for accelerating global development and improving living standards, by boosting growth, personalizing education, and transforming the agricultural sector. Atlas of Global Development
• [New] By 2026, artificial intelligence will no longer be a future trend in higher education. Aralia Education
• [New] London universities are among the first institutions approved to offer a new adult education funding scheme that will let people access student finance for shorter courses and retraining later in life. IanVisits
• [New] To achieve stronger growth in productivity and jobs, ECA countries could prioritize ambitious policy reforms that modernize the business environment, catalyze entrepreneurship, and improve the quality of education. ALBANIA DAILY NEWS
• In 2026, AI plays multiple roles: it personalizes learning by adapting content to individual students, automates administrative tasks like grading, provides 24/7 tutoring support, helps teachers plan lessons, and gives real-time analytics on student engagement and mastery. International Journal of Teaching, Learning and Educati
• Lumieres will prioritize undergraduate scholarships, new academic programs, and stronger connections between universities, scientific research, and employers to transform bilateral education into a broader ecosystem that connects knowledge exchange with Kazakhstan's modernization priorities. The Astana Times
• In 2026, AI-powered educational artifacts will be commonplace, and the good news is that AI tutors do not take holidays and, when designed responsibly, do not carry human biases. FunTimes Magazine
• Looking ahead, the trajectory of F-1 and M-1 visa issuance will likely be defined by the tension between global educational demand and tightening domestic immigration policy. 100.7 The Otter
• A higher proportion of higher education institutions were using or investing in threat intelligence (up from 72% in 2024/2025 to 92% in 2025/2026). GOV.UK
• Notable exceptions were that further education colleges were now less likely to be undertaking cyber security vulnerability audits (down from 75% last year to 55% in 2026), while fewer higher education institutions were testing staff awareness (down from 94% last year to 71% in 2026). GOV.UK

Last updated: 25 May 2026