Lifelong learning about AI is important. Why? Because!
Companies, professionals and even entire sectors face the challenge of evolving with the arrival of artificial intelligence. Especially in Flanders’ innovative knowledge economy. How do you keep up with all these trends when they follow each other faster and faster? A culture in which professionals constantly learn is essential for this! So yes, lifelong learning about AI is indispensable!
AI adoption
McKinsey estimated in 2024 that 72% of companies worldwide are already working with GenAI (McKinsey, 2024). Even more recently, the FPS Economy calculated that 12.5% of Belgian SMEs used at least one AI-based technology in 2023, versus 47.9% of large companies in Belgium. Large companies are doing better than many European countries.
For Flanders, we look at the 2023 Flanders AI Barometer, which calculated that 32% of Flemish companies use AI. But the report also states that 53.2% of Flemish companies have no plans to use AI.
The promises of AI are already being realised in Flanders
- in 55.9% of Flemish companies using AI increases that company's competitiveness. (Standaert T., Lecocq C., Andries P., Evens T., 2024)
- in 96% of Flemish companies, AI use has no impact on jobs, high or low-skilled. (Standaert T., Lecocq C., Andries P., Evens T., 2024)
- Those who can work with AI earn up to a quarter more (Neirynck, 2024 based on PwC)
“ Companies that do not use AI yet mainly lack relevant knowledge within the company and have difficulties assessing the potential applications of AI. ”
Lifelong learning
New competences needed
Steunpunt Werk's Flemish monitoring report on individual training participation in Flanders in 2024 calculated that 95% of employers expect employees to need different competences in the coming years. This should come as no surprise, with more and more new AI applications popping up, with tools tailored to different tasks and professions. New competences will be needed to use these correctly, and employers are rightly aware of this.
But who should provide such training? Cedefop surveyed professionals in Europe (2024), 44% of whom reported that they think it unlikely their employer will provide AI training.
Participation in lifelong learning
If so many new competences are needed, new skills will need to be learned, or old skills will need an upgrade. But that is where the problem lies in Flanders: at 22%, participation in lifelong learning in Flanders is lower than the European average (25%). And only half as high as the participation rates of the other innovation leaders in Europe. (Regional Innovation Scoreboard, 2023)
Downright alarming is that 40.7% of Flemish adults not participating in training do not wish to do so because they do not see a need for learning. (Vansteenkiste, S., 2024 o.b.v. Monitoringsrapport, 2024)
Lifelong learning is an important preventive action that prevents job loss in the longer term: learning now and staying abreast of innovations in the field ensures that professionals will not have problems performing their jobs or finding new ones ten years from now.
How can we make sure AI is used more?
By acquiring and updating knowledge! Not only managers, but everyone in companies and organisations should have a basic knowledge of AI, supported by more specialised roles. And let’s not forget the importance of a learning culture, because AI and by extension all digital technologies are and will continue to be in full development and therefore need to be constantly monitored.
Isabelle Borremans
Isabelle is not an AI expert, but she has been communicating about AI (and AI training) for VAIA for four years. So, she knows exactly how to communicate effectively about AI training. Feel free to contact her with any questions on how to promote your AI course. She’ll gladly challenge you with questions like:
- Who is your target audience? Can you be more specific?
- What networks reach that audience?
- Where does your audience prefer to take courses?
- What AI skills does your audience need?
- Does your training match their needs?
Besides communication, Isabelle also works on VAIA’s strategy: Who is our audience? How can we reach them? How can we spark their interest in AI?
Related courses
Machine learning and deep learning fundamentals
Workshop - Leuven - VIB, Training geselecteerd in de Belgische AI Factory Antenna (AIFA)
