Bridging Lifelong Learning in Engineering and Healthcare : Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices

Abstract

Lifelong learning (LLL) is increasingly recognized as essential for ensuring that engineers remain responsive to technological change, sustainability challenges, and evolving industry needs. While LLL is embedded in engineering, there remains significant potential to strengthen its integration into professional practice, inspired by sectors such as healthcare and industry. This interactive workshop addressed these opportunities by providing cross-sector dialogue and exploring adaptable LLL strategies for engineering. It built on best practices from healthcare and innovative approaches from Asian professional contexts, encouraging participants to analyse transferable models and apply them to engineering settings. The workshop identified simulation-based training, competency frameworks, and interdisciplinary team practices as highly adaptable models. However, these approaches require cultural change and resources, and their scalability varies depending on the type of simulation used. Insights from Asia, particularly Singapore, illustrated how policy-driven initiatives and modular learning pathways can sustain professional growth across career stages. Discussions highlighted that translating such practices into engineering requires technological adaptation, institutional support, stakeholder engagement, and cultural readiness to align diverse needs through flexible and inclusive educational approaches. The workshop concluded with actionable strategies and identified future opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing to advance impactful innovations in LLL within engineering education and practice.