Modern Day Education

By Sudheer S

In the past, formal education was primarily accessible through schools, colleges, and universities. However, this is no longer the only path to gaining knowledge. Today, with the vast array of modern tools and technologies available online, self-education has become more viable than ever. If you have the motivation and discipline, you can learn virtually any subject without attending a traditional institution.

Education is now widely accessible through various online resources, including:

  • Videos – Youtube has a vast collection of educational videos covering countless topics. Videos provide visual learning experience. For a lot of folks and situations visual learning is often better than listening to a lecture or reading text.
  • Generative AI tools – AI-powered assistants like ChatGPT and Google Gemini provide instant explanations and learning support. In fact, you can laern many topics using jsut ChatGPT. At this time, generative AI tools can make mistakes and hence guard raiss in terms of critical thinking and mentoring is required. You can have interactive learning with generative AI tools. You can ask questions and the chat tool responds in natural language.
  • Wikipedia – the encyclopedia of the Internet, a comprehensive reference source for almost any subject.
  • Online learning platforms – Websites like Khan Academy, Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer both free and paid courses.
  • Search engines and blogs – Google makes it easy to find articles, tutorials, and expert insights on nearly any topic.
  • eBooks and digital libraries – Platforms like Amazon Kindle, Project Gutenberg, and PDF repositories offer access to books in various formats.
  • Forums and online communities – Platforms like Reddit, Stack Exchange, and Quora allow users to ask questions and engage in discussions with experts and enthusiasts.
  • Specialized learning websites – Dedicated platforms for coding, language learning, and other skills provide interactive experiences.

With these resources, anyone with internet access can pursue knowledge independently, making education more flexible and accessible than ever before.

Exceptions: When Formal Education Is Necessary

While self-education is powerful, some fields still require hands-on training due to legal and ethical considerations. Examples include:

  • Medical and healthcare professions – Becoming a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist requires clinical training and licensing to ensure patient safety. Even here, there is scope to utilize technology to minimize the role of college and university.
  • Aviation and commercial piloting – Pilots need rigorous training and flight experience to operate aircraft legally.
  • Skilled trades and hazardous industries – Professions like electricians, welders, and construction workers often require apprenticeships and certifications for safety and regulatory compliance.

While online education can provide foundational knowledge in these fields, formal training, licensing, and real-world experience are essential for professional practice.

With the right resources, self-learners can acquire valuable skills in technology fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and more, making education more flexible, accessible, and industry-relevant than ever before. For example, equivalent knowledge can be gained without pursuing a traditional Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science or software engineering.

The Evolving Role Of The Universities

  • No More Repetitive Lectures – No More Repetitive Lectures – High-quality lectures should be recorded once and made accessible to all students, eliminating redundancy and enabling self-paced learning. Universities can also leverage third-party video repositories rather than creating identical content independently. As education evolves, the traditional lecturer’s role is diminishing. Instead of merely delivering lectures, educators must shift their focus toward mentorship, personalized guidance, and facilitating deeper learning experiences.
  • Focused On Assessment – Universities should prioritize conducting rigorous tests and evaluations to ensure students grasp key concepts and skills. There should be other organisations such as non-profit organizations, non-government organizations and for-profit companies to provide the assessment services.
  • Personalized Mentorship – Professors and advisors should act as mentors, guiding students in their academic and career paths rather than just delivering lectures.
  • A Lifelong Learning Community – Universities should cultivate a strong network of current students and alumni, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and professional growth.
  • Flexible Learning Schedules – Self-paced education should be the standard. Students who master material quickly can accelerate their studies, while those who need more time can progress at their own pace. There is little justification for universities or regulators to impose fixed timeframes for degree programs. The distinction between a three-year vs. four-year course, or fifteen vs. sixteen years of education, should be irrelevant—what matters is competency, not the duration of study.
  • The curriculum should be continuously re-evaluated, with regulations and standards evolving based on evidence rather than the subjective decisions of a closed committee. Educational policies must prioritize data-driven improvements over outdated, insular decision-making.
  • The legitimacy of self-education through the internet must be recognized, as knowledge is no longer confined to traditional academic institutions. Skills and expertise should be valued based on merit and capability rather than solely on formal credentials.