Owing to intense changes in educational demands in a globalized world and demographic shifts in almost all developed countries, structures and content of educational and vocational training have to adapt. Specificity refers to the need for a broad-based education, allowing people to train for more than one occupation. In terms of content, social skills must be taught to embrace diversity. Educational institutions need to be open for all stages in the life course. Moreover, possibilities of disconnecting time and space owing to progress in educational media need to be explored.

These global challenges for the educational system also place demands on education research. We need to overcome the segmentation in disciplines and narrowly defined life stages. We need to reconsider the trend toward a standardized system of educational and vocational training. One size does not fit all. Finally, emerging group differences in educational outcomes have to be more thoroughly explored.