In today’s rapidly evolving economy, education no longer ends with a degree. Careers change, technologies shift, and new skills emerge at an unprecedented pace. For learners at every stage of life, continuing education plays a vital role in staying adaptable, resilient, and connected.

In a recent conversation on the Career Channel, Kelly Nielsen, Director of the UC San Diego Center for Research and Evaluation, spoke with Hugo Villar, Dean of the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, about the growing importance of lifelong learning and how universities can help individuals navigate a changing world of work.

From workforce training to personal enrichment, Extended Studies connects university knowledge with community needs, creating pathways for learners across the lifespan.

Serving Learners Beyond Traditional Degrees

Universities are often associated with undergraduate and graduate degree programs. But Extended Studies plays a different role.

As Villar explained, the division focuses on learners who are not currently enrolled in traditional degree programs.

“We are an educational division, and our mission is to serve the non-matriculated students,” Villar said. “That means those that are not going for a bachelor degree, a master’s, or a PhD, but that require some education in their careers.”

The scale of that mission is significant. Villar noted that the division serves tens of thousands of learners each year.

“We serve around 46,000 students every year, which is a very large number,” he said. “We are one of the largest extension-type programs, continuing education programs, in the nation.”

These learners come from diverse backgrounds. Many are working professionals seeking new skills, while others are exploring new interests or preparing for career transitions. In San Diego, the military community also represents an important part of the student population.

“Being in San Diego, one of the main components is the military,” Villar said. “We serve military families extensively, people who are affiliated with the military, as well as active duty military people or people who are in transition.”

Education Across the Lifespan

Extended Studies supports learners from early education through retirement, reflecting the broader mission of a public university to serve its community.

“At any one point in your life, you’re welcome to come back—and that is part of the mission of the university,” Villar said.

The division offers programs for pre-college students, working professionals, and older adults seeking new intellectual and social engagement.

Programs such as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute serve adults age 55 and older who want to remain intellectually active and socially connected. According to Villar, retirement often brings a surprising challenge.

“One of the issues that happens when you retire is that you lose your community,” he said. “Your workplace disappears.”

Learning environments can help rebuild those networks.

“One of the things that you have to reconstruct is all your networks of people who are engaged and that are at your same stage in life,” Villar explained.

In this way, education becomes more than skill development. It also becomes a way to build community and create meaningful connections.

Preparing for Career Changes

Lifelong learning has become increasingly important as modern careers evolve. Many workers will transition between industries or roles several times during their lives.

“The idea of lifelong learning comes about because these days, most people will change careers multiple times in their professional life,” Villar said. “On average, most people will change 5–7 times in their career.”

These transitions often require new skills, which is where continuing education plays an important role.

“Many times we are not prepared for those changes,” Villar said. “We do not have the entire skill set that is necessary to really succeed in those projects.”

Extended Studies programs help learners adapt through both reskilling and upskilling.

“Re-skilling means to acquire new skills,” Villar explained. “You transform your career. You’re going from one industry to another.”

Upskilling, by contrast, involves building on existing expertise.

“Upskilling means you’re going to upgrade your skill set,” Villar said. “Maybe you reach a ceiling in your profession, and you need additional skills to move up the ladder.”

To support these needs, the division offers more than 2,000 courses covering a wide range of fields, from leadership and management to emerging technologies.

Partnering With Industry

Keeping pace with the modern workforce requires close collaboration with employers.

“It’s important to relate to the employers,” Villar said. “They advise us on the types of programs that we should be offering.”

Industry partners help identify emerging skill gaps, ensuring that educational programs reflect real-world needs.Many instructors also come directly from industry, bringing practical experience into the classroom.

“Many of the people who teach for us are professionals who are working in industry,” Villar said. “They have knowledge that is very much applied.”

This approach helps learners gain skills they can immediately apply in their workplaces.

Connecting University Research to the Workforce

Extended Studies also benefits from its connection to one of the world’s leading research universities.

“When the workforce needs training…where are you going to find that talent?” Villar said. “That talent is at the university.”

By collaborating with academic departments across campus, Extended Studies can translate cutting-edge research into workforce training programs.

“Our ability to connect the research with the industry needs is another fundamental part of the vision of the division of Extended Studies,” Villar explained.

This connection helps bring emerging innovations out of the lab and into the broader community.

Using Data to Anticipate Workforce Needs

Beyond industry input and university expertise, the division also relies on workforce data and research to guide program development.

“For us, having a good understanding of the labor markets and workforce development trends is essential to our mission,” Villar said.

UC San Diego Extended Studies houses a Center for Research and Evaluation that analyzes labor market trends and educational demand.

“They enable us to refine the programs based on not only individual perceptions of what should be taught, but on real data, on real market trends,” Villar said.

This research allows the division to respond quickly when new skills emerge.

“In our case, within a few months, we can create a program,” Villar said, describing the unit as “a rapid deployment unit in terms of educational needs.”

Navigating the Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Among the most transformative forces shaping the workforce today is artificial intelligence.

“Artificial intelligence is a very interesting technology in terms that it’s affecting pretty much every single aspect of what we do,” Villar said.

Rather than treating AI as a separate discipline, Extended Studies often integrates it directly into existing programs.

“Whatever it is that you’re doing, if artificial intelligence plays a role or can help you do your job better, we’re including it in our programs,” he explained.

While AI may change some types of work, other fields remain in strong demand. Villar pointed to healthcare, cybersecurity, and life sciences as areas with growing opportunities.

“With an aging population, it’s very important that we continue to maintain a vibrant workforce in the area of healthcare,” he said.

A Mission to Serve the Community

In many ways, the division’s work reflects the broader mission of public higher education. Programs are delivered not only on campus but also in libraries, hospitals, workplaces, and community organizations.

“We’re not just here in a particular geographic space,” Villar said. “We try to be in the community and service as many parts of the community as possible.”

Through these partnerships, Extended Studies expands access to learning for a wide range of audiences.

Taking the First Step

For individuals considering a return to education, Villar encourages curiosity and openness to change.

“The workforce these days is changing continuously,” he said. “Your job is going to change.”

Rather than facing those transitions alone, he advises learners to seek out resources and communities that support growth. “Find ways to take that first step that will enable you to get going,” Villar said. “Sometimes the hardest part is the first step.”

Continuing education can provide that starting point—helping learners build new skills, new networks, and new opportunities throughout their lives.

Learn More

To watch this conversation with Dean Hugo Villar, visit the UCTV Career Channel. To access a full slate of programs exploring subjects from science, health, and medicine to public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture, visit UCTV.

To learn more about UC San Diego Extended Studies courses, programs, and services, visit extendedstudies.ucsd.edu.