We spend a considerable amount of time worrying about the future of work, whether it’s AI stealing our jobs or preparing for roles that don't yet exist. However, while we debate what might happen years from now, we overlook a challenge that's already present: the growing disconnect between what people are learning and what employers need today.
In October, the WGU West Region team joined leaders from across California for a three-day event at the 2025 California Economic Summit. Hosted by CA FWD and the California Stewardship Network, this annual convening brings together innovators, problem-solvers and community leaders committed to building a more resilient and inclusive “New California Economy.”
WGU’s mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. That core focus on life-changing outcomes for individual students inspired the founders and continues to influence every decision the university makes to this day.
The future of learning is undeniably tech-driven, and that opens the door for more people to access education. But technology alone won’t solve the challenge of misinformation. The real solution lies in empowering learners to use technology with intention. If we want truth to thrive in the age of AI, we have to teach people how to work with it. That’s the future of education. And it starts with media literacy.
WGU’s mission-driven work is powered by technology but defined by people. Every feature we build and every system we improve helps a student achieve something life changing. That’s what makes this work not only meaningful, but necessary.
