Tomorrow’s Competence is a pre-study led by Media Evolution exploring how mature organisations are preparing for emerging learning needs—driven by digitalisation, AI, and shifting workforce expectations.

Between October 2024 and January 2025, we gathered insights from 70+ professionals through surveys, interviews, and a Collaborative Foresight Cycle. The results highlight a shared awareness: future competence development is as much about mindset and adaptability as it is about skills.

Needs

The study identifies core structural needs: fostering psychological safety, designing inclusive and flexible learning ecosystems, and integrating emerging technologies without losing the human in the loop. From peer-to-peer mentorships to experiential learning and “quiet hiring,” companies are exploring new paths to grow internal talent.

Opportunities

The report outlines several opportunities for addressing the complexity of future competence development:

• shift from one-size-fits-all training models to more inclusive, relational, and experience-driven learning ecosystems to better meet evolving needs
• investment in structures that value informal learning, foster psychological safety, and recognize emotional and embodied dimensions of learning to make space for deeper transformation
• make use of foresight as both a mindset and a method in helping organisations anticipate change, co-create direction, and align learning strategies with long-term goals
• rethink learning evaluation and move beyond ROI focus to develop inclusive, longitudinal frameworks that assess learning impact over time
• encourage meaningful use of emerging tools like AI to support human-centered learning, while maintaining critical thinking capacities
• recognise and validate lived experience, informal knowledge, and practical experimentation as core elements of professional learning
• acknowledging the role of emotions, values, and purpose as essential in how and why people learn—and in shaping lasting learning environments

The pre-study was funded by Region Skåne. The work builds on Media Evolution’s ongoing commitment to collective learning and system-aware futures thinking.