Future of Education

At a moment when Alberta sits at the intersection of technological acceleration, educational transformation, and demographic pressure, this panel explores what it means to learn—and to lead—through disruption. From Phil McRae’s examination of how the Fourth Industrial Revolution is reshaping young people’s lives and public education, to Karsten Mundel’s call to reclaim productive struggle as the foundation of deep learning and ethical agency in an age of generative AI, to Alex Usher’s analysis of the structural and demographic pressures confronting Alberta’s postsecondary system, a common thread emerges: the future will not be navigated through efficiency or innovation alone. It will require institutions and individuals capable of thoughtful adaptation, relational depth, and sustained relevance in a world defined by complexity and continuous change.