Agent-Assisted Life-Long Education and Learning.

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to education and learning, in which digital agents take care of the life-long education and career development of their human partners. Agent consults requirements and preferences and proactively searches for opportunities by monitoring job markets, reflecting on educational options and challenges. Then, it adjusts the current academic program and coordinates the pathway facilitating the optimal desired outcome. We envision a Distributed Educational Agent Network (DEAN) of connected, trustworthy educational agents that securely communicate with each other to collectively carry out the above-mentioned tasks. We discuss the benefits and current and future challenges associated with the implementation of the proposed agent-assisted educational approach. Research and development of DEAN provide a unique opportunity for the agent community to design, implement and evaluate agent technologies in complex, large scale scenarios. In this paper, we also specify a proposal for a design of a DEAN agent, using skill development to monitor and drive education and career.