PHILADELPHIA, PA — Project Management Institute (PMI) and Cannes Lions have launched a global initiative aimed at narrowing the gap between higher education curricula and the skills employers increasingly seek in an economy shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and evolving workplace demands.
The LIONS Educators Forum will bring together educators, industry leaders, and students through a year-round network focused on curriculum development and workforce readiness, the organizations said.
The initiative reflects growing pressure on academic institutions to adapt programs to meet demand for skills such as creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, and project execution as employers reassess workforce needs in response to technological change.
The forum will operate through two annual virtual roundtables, an in-person program during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June 2026, and a continuing global network designed to facilitate collaboration between academia and industry.
Vann Graves, executive director of VCU Brandcenter, will chair the initiative alongside a leadership team from Cannes Lions.
Steve Latham, global head of strategic learning initiatives at Cannes Lions, said the program is intended to strengthen connections between educators and employers as creativity becomes increasingly valuable across industries.
“Creativity is now one of the most important skills in the global economy, yet the connection between education and industry has never been more critical,” Latham said. “The LIONS Educators Forum is designed to close that gap.”
PMI, which works with academic institutions worldwide, will serve as the forum’s founding partner and contribute perspectives on workforce preparation, project management, and organizational leadership.
“The future of work will reward people who can do more than generate ideas,” Menaka Gopinath, PMI’s chief marketing officer, said. “We need to equip students and the educators who guide them with the skills to bring people together, make sense of complexity and turn creative ambition into real-world impact.”
The launch comes as employers across industries increasingly emphasize durable workplace skills alongside technical expertise, prompting educational institutions to reevaluate how academic programs prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing labor market.
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