Every industry thinks it’s different.
Healthcare says it’s bound by compliance.
FinTech says it’s driven by speed.
Education says it has the frameworks.
Scratch the surface, though, and you find they’re all wrestling with the same questions:
How do we keep people learning while the world keeps changing?
How do we prove that learning has actually happened?
How do we make recognition portable so it doesn’t vanish with a job change or a system upgrade?
Different stories, same themes
In healthcare, the pressure is on regulation and evidence. In tech, it’s speed and agility. In education, it’s structure and outcomes. These sound like different problems — until you realise they’re all just angles on the same challenge: how to balance quality, credibility, and flexibility in learning.
Some sectors hide behind bureaucracy. Others sprint ahead with little structure. Most sit somewhere in between, frustrated that they can’t quite get it right.
What they don’t always see
What many industries don’t realise is how much they share in common. The healthcare manager, the fintech compliance officer, the teacher, the HR lead — they’re all trying to solve the same puzzle. They just give the pieces different names.
That’s the real opportunity: cross-sector learning. Not about copying frameworks wholesale, but about recognising that every sector has blind spots, and every sector has something to teach.
The bigger picture
Lifelong learning isn’t industry-specific. It’s human. And as careers become more fluid, crossing boundaries and geographies, the gaps between “regulated,” “agile,” or “structured” start to shrink.
At the end of the day, we’re all in the same boat: trying to help people keep learning, stay credible, and grow in their work.
Closing thought
The lesson? Don’t stay locked in your sector bubble. Look sideways. Borrow ideas. And remember that CPD, at its best, isn’t about ticking boxes in one industry — it’s about building a culture of learning that cuts across all of them.
Because lifelong learning doesn’t care whether you’re in healthcare, fintech, or education. It’s the same challenge. And the same opportunity.
About the Author
Marta Kalas is the Founder & CEO of Open CPD, where she is transforming how training and events gain recognition and credibility. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare and technology, she combines practical insights with a mission to make accreditation accessible, flexible, and impactful.
She also writes The Recognition Gap, her personal LinkedIn newsletter on lifelong learning, CPD certificates, and digital badges.
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