#LifelongLearning

Thailand, like many countries across the globe, is entering a demographic era that will reshape its society, economy, and healthcare system: the age of the rapidly aging population. Recent analysis from financial institution Goldman Sachs, as summarized in the article “The Surprising Implications of an Aging Population” (goldmansachs.com), illustrates the far-reaching consequences of this trend—not just for industrialized economies, but also for fast-developing nations like Thailand.

The essence of this news lies in the profound societal changes sparked by longer lifespans and falling birth rates. Demographers and economists warn that, while increasing longevity is a triumph for public health, it introduces new challenges that affect economic growth, labor markets, public finances, and healthcare provision. In Thailand, policymakers, university researchers, and public health officials are already grappling with these questions, seeking strategies to care for a swelling cohort of older adults without stalling the country’s development.

For many Thais, it’s a familiar refrain heard from elders: “Each year passes faster than the last.” This shared experience, long chalked up to nostalgia or busy lives, now has new scientific backing. Recent research published in the journal European Review and summarized in an Earth.com article explains why our perception of time truly seems to speed up with age, lending insight into both the mechanics of the brain and possible ways for everyone, young or old, to reclaim a sense of fuller, richer days (Earth.com).

Universities across the globe must redefine their purpose to prioritize lifelong learning in an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), according to the president of Northeastern University, who warns that higher education risks becoming obsolete if it fails to adapt. Speaking during a keynote address at the event “Engineering the Future with Artificial Intelligence,” held at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, the Northeastern University president emphasized the urgent need for higher education to extend its focus beyond young students, highlighting the transformative impact of AI on both learning and society.

Artificial intelligence is driving a dramatic transformation in higher education, pushing universities worldwide to shift beyond their traditional focus on young students and research to embrace lifelong learning for all. The latest research and expert commentary, highlighted by a keynote address from the president of Northeastern University, underscores a global pivot—one that is increasingly relevant for Thailand’s rapidly evolving educational landscape (Northeastern University; Forward Pathway). Amid the rise of generative AI and large language models such as ChatGPT, higher education institutions face mounting pressure to adapt, or risk obsolescence.

A wave of new scientific evidence is challenging the idea that mental sharpness inevitably fades after 50. Recent research and expert consensus show that staying nimble in mind and memory is less about good luck or genetics and more about choices made each day. For Thais approaching or beyond midlife, understanding and applying these findings could be transformative for personal well-being, longevity, and social contribution.

Staying mentally agile into one’s 50s and beyond is not a matter of fate, according to a recent article in VegOut Magazine, which highlights seven habits observed in people over 50 who maintain exceptional cognitive skills. This popular narrative is now reinforced by robust scientific studies, including a landmark 16-year analysis published in Aging & Mental Health, which tracked more than 10,000 adults over age 50 and found that higher psychological well-being is strongly linked to superior memory performance—even when controlling for depression and other health factors (Neuroscience News, SciTechDaily). These findings arrive at a critical time for Thailand, where the proportion of elderly citizens is rapidly increasing and the national conversation is turning to healthy aging as a social and policy priority.

As Thailand follows global trends in technology and education, startling new research from the United States points to a dramatic shift in what once seemed a guaranteed path to prosperity: a degree in computer science. After two decades of surging interest and swelling enrollments, the once-booming computer-science major appears to have peaked. For Thai students and families seeking the best choices for higher education and employability, the unfolding story in America offers timely warnings and vital insights.

As the tech world races forward with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and automation, a new debate is surfacing across universities and boardrooms alike: Is a traditional computer science degree still the golden ticket to a successful technology career? Provocative arguments, such as those laid out in the article “12 reasons to ignore computer science degrees” from CIO (cio.com), are capturing global attention—echoing anxieties and optimism found throughout today’s technology sector.

A new report highlights eight practical habits, grounded in modern psychological research, that set apart people who consistently move forward in personal and professional life. Published on June 15, 2025, by VegOut Magazine, the article draws insights from decades of psychological studies, refracting them through relatable daily routines and tangible strategies anyone can adopt. For Thai readers, where persistence and resilience are core values, this timely research offers both inspiration and scientifically validated methods to thrive amid daily pressures, changing job markets, and social uncertainty (vegoutmag.com).

As the digital revolution accelerates across industries, a new cohort of career-changers and non-traditional computer science students is finding its way into graduate-level tech education—even without a CS degree. Recent developments in higher education now offer aspiring Thai and international students alternative routes into a Master’s in Computer Science (CS), opening doors to high-demand tech careers for those from diverse academic backgrounds. This shift marks a significant step toward inclusivity in technology and is already changing the landscape for both working professionals and students considering a future in IT.

A growing body of scientific research and business insight, recently brought to international attention by a discussion of Steve Jobs’s educational philosophy, is challenging the longstanding belief that specialization is the key to success and happiness in education, career, and life. Instead, studies and expert perspectives suggest that those who embrace a wide range of interests and disciplines—so-called generalists—are often happier, more innovative, and better equipped to thrive in today’s fast-changing world Greater Good, Accessory To Success, Medium.

A new wave of research and expert advice is turning the spotlight on how people over 40 can achieve lifelong happiness, debunking the myth that satisfaction declines with age. According to a recent article published by YourTango and reinforced by decades of scientific investigation, adopting certain regular habits can set individuals in midlife—and beyond—on a course for greater well-being and fulfillment (yourtango.com). These findings hold special relevance for Thai readers as the Kingdom’s population ages and societal norms around happiness and self-actualization evolve.

Unlearning, a concept once relegated to the margins of educational theory and neuroscience, is taking center stage in 2025 as new research urges individuals and institutions to rethink how knowledge is acquired, updated, and, crucially, discarded. As global education systems and workforces grapple with fast-evolving information landscapes, being able to let go of outdated ideas is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for personal growth and organizational innovation (Psychology Today; WDHB).

A surge of new psychological research is challenging long-held beliefs about talent and ability, suggesting that key qualities like mindset, agility, and creativity are not fixed traits but skills that anyone can develop over time—and that cultivating these skills may be crucial for thriving in the unpredictable modern world. As daily life in Thailand and globally becomes increasingly shaped by technology, uncertainty, and rapid change, researchers and educators alike are recognizing that collective success depends less on rote memorization and more on the adaptability of our minds (Psychology Today).

The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a psychological phenomenon where people with limited knowledge or skill in a particular area often overestimate their own abilities, while those who are more competent may actually underestimate themselves. This effect, first identified by researchers at Cornell University in 1999, has become a widely discussed topic in psychology, workplace training, and even daily Thai culture, as it sheds light on why some individuals appear inexplicably confident about topics they barely understand, while experts may downplay their own expertise [thestandard.co], [themomentum.co], [thaipublica.org].

A recent study has uncovered that older adults tend to engage in less self-reflection about their personality traits than their younger counterparts—a finding that could have important implications for personal development, mental health, and aging in Thailand and beyond. The research, published in the journal Motivation and Emotion, explored age differences in how individuals think about and evaluate their own personalities, concluding that as people age, they become less likely to question or analyze aspects of who they are.

Neuroscientists have recently made a significant breakthrough in our understanding of how the brain creates and stores new memories, uncovering previously unknown “rules” for how neurons encode fresh information. This discovery, reported by MedicalXpress in April 2025, opens the door to improved treatments for memory disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and offers fresh insights into how we learn and remember—two functions at the very heart of Thai society’s emphasis on lifelong education and wellbeing (MedicalXpress, 2025).