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By: Ainhoa Marcos, VP Education & Public Sector of ODILO
Published by: El Español
In the public debate on training, the focus tends to gravitate around youth employability and corporate training. Although both are fundamental, this vision is incomplete. The potential of learning lies in its ability to transform society from the ground up, acting as a driver of citizen empowerment and social cohesion. In this new paradigm, training is no longer a finite stage but a journey that lasts a lifetime, and technology is the vehicle that ensures that no one is left behind on that journey.
The great challenge of our era is to eliminate the divides, both digital and social and economic, that fragment society. This is where citizenship training takes on a leading role. A paradigmatic example is digital training. In an interconnected world, a lack of technological skills is one of the main barriers to inclusion. The gap is a tangible reality: according to the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), four out of ten adults in the EU lack basic digital skills. In Spain, the situation is even more pressing, since, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), 27.9% of people aged 65 to 74 have never used the Internet.
To address this challenge, initiatives such as the ‘Madrid Aula Digital’ platform show that it is possible to reverse this situation. By offering accessible and personalised training, citizens are given the necessary autonomy for daily tasks, such as requesting a medical appointment or carrying out banking transactions, reinforcing their confidence and reducing the risk of exclusion.
This challenge also opens up a key opportunity: activating senior talent. In today’s societies, which are increasingly long-lived, ensuring that older people can continue to learn and develop digital skills, in addition to reducing the technological gap, allows us to take advantage of their experience and knowledge. The continuous training of senior talent favors a more active participation in social, cultural and economic life and reinforces the true meaning of lifelong learning.
Technology, in this context, acts as a powerful catalyst. Edtech companies are positioning themselves as key players by offering a vast catalog of multi-format resources (e-books, audiobooks, videos, courses) in an accessible, intuitive, and, crucially, personalized way. This innovative approach places the individual as the protagonist of his or her own development, overcoming the standardization of methods and allowing a true democratization of knowledge that breaks down geographical and economic barriers.
This principle of inclusion through technology is particularly clearly manifested in vulnerable groups. Initiatives such as Bibliodrogas of the National Service for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Consumption (SENDA) in Chile facilitate access to specialized content that supports awareness and social reintegration.
Likewise, technology is an indispensable ally to guarantee access to knowledge for people with disabilities. Platforms such as those implemented by the Libraries of Catalonia network integrate accessibility functionalities (such as adaptive texts or audio descriptions) that transform digital resources into truly inclusive tools. By removing the physical barrier, cultural and social inclusion is ensured.
Collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to consolidate a learning ecosystem. UNESCO, in its latest World Report on Adult Learning and Education, stresses that adults with good skills are almost twice as likely to be healthy and three times more likely to participate in society. Investment in educational technology, beyond being an exit, is a strategic investment in social cohesion with a measurable return. Fostering a culture of lifelong learning, accessible to all, is the most effective way to eliminate gaps and build a more resilient, equitable society prepared for the challenges of the future.