We all know the potential of education when it comes to transforming lives. Who doesn’t remember the story of someone who managed to change their circumstances by embracing education and fighting for a different future? Or of friends or family members who had limited resources and found in a degree a way to fulfill a dream and improve their current situation?

These days, when we talk about the social potential of education, digital learning has been gaining significant prominence. According to the most recent Education Census, distance learning has grown by 200% over the past five years, representing 2.5 million people who enrolled in an online college or university course in 2021.

It is within this context of leadership that the Digital Education Hubs operate. These centers play a key role in the decentralized development of educational and administrative activities related to courses and educational institutions, enhancing accessibility, inclusion, and convenience.

That said, we can view the Educational Hub as a key vehicle for democratizing access to knowledge, especially when it comes to issues related to social vulnerability and the socioeconomic context of the community in which it operates. There is no way to bring about transformation through education without being inclusive and democratic, and this applies to all age groups. 

Digital education is also a transformative force for those facing ageism in the labor market. Projections from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) indicate that the number of older adults in Brazil will triple by 2060, which poses challenges, particularly in the areas of social security and public policy.

Unfortunately, we have seen reports in the media of people who have been harassed in academic settings because of their age, which some consider too old for the classroom environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes ageism as “stereotypes (how we think), prejudices (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) directed at people based on their age.”

Data from the Ministry of Education show that in 2022, approximately 600,000 freshmen aged 40 or older enrolled in college in Brazil, compared to 221,000 10 years ago. The increase, at 171.1%, was greater than the change in the total number of new students, which rose by 43.1% over the same period. The share of this age group in higher education nearly doubled: it rose from 8% to 15.2% during the period, and this is directly related to the expansion of distance learning programs, which have already established themselves as a powerful tool in combating ageism. 

Finally, the decentralization of higher education centers breaks down barriers imposed by geographic and social distances, while also making a college degree a tangible dream for a significant portion of Brazilians. Contrary to widespread misconceptions, this model promotes connection and interaction, but it goes far beyond that by helping people realize their dreams and transforming families and communities through access to quality education.

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