Knowledge carries a social dimension. When people learn together, patterns emerge that connect, strengthen, and evolve. In a world defined by constant change, learning becomes the shared fabric that enables development, a structure for trust, meaning, and continued human progress.
Learning as social infrastructure
Learning functions as a fundamental infrastructure in human systems. It is the network through which ideas move, relationships form, and belonging takes shape. Through collective learning, knowledge is established alongside social trust and connection. When people engage in both formal and informal learning, bridges are built between individuals, groups, and generations.
According to Statistics Sweden (2024), adult participation in education and training shows clear correlations with social integration and higher engagement in working life. Sweden has one of the highest participation levels in Europe, showing that learning already operates as a societal structure capable of strengthening social cohesion 1.
Knowledge as a societal structure
When people develop competence and share experience, they strengthen not only their own capacity but also the relationships between them. A collective space for action opens. Knowledge is therefore not only a tool for career development but a force that holds societies together.
Research from The Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) demonstrates that adult education and training correlate with higher employment outcomes and stronger work-life results 2. Investment in learning benefits individuals while creating structural value that supports collective stability.
Lifelong learning as social sustainability
Social sustainability is about people being able to live meaningful and participatory lives in connection with others. Lifelong learning is a vital part of that structure.
When people are given the opportunity to continue developing over time, both personal confidence and societal resilience grow.
According to Eurostat, over 65 percent of Swedish adults aged 25–64 participated in education or training during 2022, placing Sweden among the top in Europe 3. This demonstrates that the foundation for lifelong learning already exists. The next step is to deepen its human and social value.
Belonging through knowledge
Belonging arises when people share a process.
When learning becomes a collective commitment, mutual understanding grows. Community evolves through reflection, listening, and curiosity.
Digital tools can strengthen this dimension when designed with care. A 2025 study from University of Skövde found that older adults who regularly use digital tools in their daily lives report lower levels of loneliness 4. This suggests that digital infrastructure can serve as a channel for connection when it supports relationships and shared learning.
Erigo’s perspective
Erigo views competence as a living structure in society, a movement connecting people, organizations, and the future of work.
We are developing a modular platform where learning, validation, feedback, and analytics form one coherent flow. Through LMS for learning, Credentials for verification, Pulse for feedback, and Workforce Intelligence (WFI) for competence mapping and internal mobility, knowledge becomes traceable and dynamic across every level.
We work proactively to create spaces where community and knowledge meet through digital tools. The forum within the platform serves as a natural environment for reflection and collaboration, a place where data, dialogue, and learning converge.
The digital world makes it possible to expand these spaces. When knowledge becomes a shared resource, the way societies organize themselves also changes.
Community through learning forms the foundation of the future workplace, where stability and development reinforce one another.
Digital progress enables new structures for collaboration.
We can build environments where people share experiences, develop competence, and strengthen their capacity together.
This is where knowledge becomes a shared movement forward.
Related article
The future of employment: The next five years will determine how we use competence]
References
- Statistics Sweden (2024). Adult Learning 2024 – Participation in education and training among adults in Sweden. SCB.se
- Heller Sahlgren, G. (2023). Lifelong Learning and Employment Outcomes. The Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Stockholm. ifn.se
- Eurostat (2023). Adult Learning Statistics – Sweden. ec.europa.eu
- University of Skövde (2025). New technology helps reduce loneliness among older people. his.se
