Education is broken.
Okay, not entirely. But it is incomplete.
Schools teach math, history, and science—which is important. But essential life skills like leadership, emotional intelligence, and navigating the real world often don’t get the same focus.
It’s a system built for an era that no longer exists. And Mindvalley refuses to accept that.
At this year’s Mindvalley University (MVU, for short) in Amsterdam, the edutech powerhouse is joining forces for the second time with an equally visionary education disruptor—Learnlife, the school whose approach is redefining how kids learn in Europe.
The world has changed dramatically since I was a child their age, and yet, classrooms have barely changed since I was at school.
— Emma Buckle, director of Partnerships, Outreach & PR at Learnlife
The goal? To question the old education system and build something better together.
No rows of desks. No mindless memorization. No tests. No grades.
Because this isn’t school. This is the future of learning.
Mindvalley’s commitment to transforming youth education
Mindvalley has never played by the rules of traditional education. While schools push textbooks and tests, the global leader in personal transformation builds lifelong learners—people who think, create, and lead with purpose.
For years, the Youth Program at MVU has been giving kids and teens the tools that actually matter. Tools like:
- Handling emotions and stress,
- Speaking and listening well,
- Thinking like an entrepreneur,
- Understanding money,
- Problem-solving creatively,
- Building good habits and confidence, and
- Leading and inspiring others.
“We’ve been taking the traditional model of education and filling out every single gap we’ve been able to find,” Gigi Márquez Suárez, the head of Mindvalley’s Youth Programs, shares with Pulse. The curriculum she and her team create every year for MVU helps kids grow and evolve into the most complete, well-rounded version of themselves.
And the thing is, these skills aren’t just nice to have; they determine success.
A World Economic Forum report states that 65% of children entering school today will work in jobs that don’t yet exist. Yet, most schools still focus on rote memorization instead of adaptability, innovation, or problem-solving.
What’s more, a study by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and the Stanford Research Center found that 85% of career success comes from soft skills, while only 15% comes from technical knowledge.
So while schools prioritize the 15%, Mindvalley focuses on the 85%.
The Mindvalley x Learnlife collaboration
Transformation doesn’t happen alone.
In 2024, Mindvalley teamed up with Learnlife, an education movement that’s swapping rigid classrooms for hands-on, passion-fueled learning. And the results speak for themselves: Learnlife has already impacted over 10,000 learners in 12 countries, proving that a new way of learning isn’t only possible, it’s already happening.
“One of the biggest obstacles we see is that many kids “survive” school rather than thrive in school,” says Emma Buckle, the director of Partnerships, Outreach & PR at Learnlife.
The thing is, when students don’t fit the mold, their confidence suffers, even when they’re full of bright ideas worth sharing. But Emma emphasizes that every learner deserves a path to success that works for them.
“They have the same approach to education as we do,” Gigi highlights. They focus on understanding what their life learners need and adapting accordingly, rather than forcing them into a rigid structure.
“Flexibility and structure are not incompatible,” Emma explains. “There is a misconception that offering learners more agency and freedom to have voice and choice in their learning means there is less structure.”
That’s farther than the truth. As a matter of fact, Learnlife school’s approach is to have time in the schedule for personalized learning and project development, ensuring students have dedicated space to explore their passions.
With such kindred fervor, it’s no surprise that this year, the partnership between both Educational visionaries is back. Bigger, bolder, and more immersive than ever.
And Mindvalley University 2025 is where the future of education is being built—right now.
This is the future of learning
As technology advances at breakneck speed, the ability to relearn, reinvent, and upskill will define success. Emma believes that the future of learning will be less about memorization and more about developing the human skills that AI can’t replace—grit, resilience, creativity, and empathy.
“As a mother of three young and very energetic young boys, I see that the world has changed dramatically since I was a child their age, and yet, classrooms have barely changed since I was at school,” she shares. “This is not sustainable nor future-proof.”
Instead, she envisions an education system that prioritizes well-being, self-awareness, and real-world problem-solving. One that helps kids understand their unique strengths (or “personal superpowers,” as she calls them) and gives them the tools to navigate an unpredictable world.
But in an increasingly digital age, Emma sees another challenge ahead: knowing how to use technology with intention.
“The future of learning will be knowing how to navigate and use tech to our advantage,” she explains. At the same time, it’s about finding the right balance, leveraging technology while still making space for creativity, hands-on experiences, and real-world interactions.
Education should give kids the fortitude to flourish in any career, in any world, at any time—not just prepare them for a single path.
What this means for you and your children
Picture your child ten years from now.
Are they pitching their startup on Shark Tank? Solving real-world problems with an AI-driven app? Turning a high school side hustle into a six-figure business? Filing their own taxes without panic or confusion? Handling tough conversations at work without self-doubt?
This can happen when kids are given the right tools to succeed. In fact, a meta-analysis spanning 43 years found that kids learn better when they gain real-world experience instead of just sitting in a classroom. Another study conducted by RAND Corporation showed that when learning is tailored to each child, they do better in school—no matter where they start.
This is the kind of foundation Mindvalley and Learnlife are building. The approach they’re taking to lifelong learning, in Emma’s words, “enables learners to tinker, make and explore, and discover a range of different interests and areas for growth without feeling like they are not accomplishing.”
Essentially, a launchpad for lifelong success.
Children are the most potent force there is, and what they can achieve and the impact they can make is limitless when given the right tools. And that’s exactly what we give them.
— Gigi Márquez Suárez, the head of Mindvalley’s Youth Programs
One parent, Cimin Wirth from Germany, saw this firsthand with her teen son. “[He] was hooked from day one,” she shares. “Months later, he is still connected with his new friends from all over the world. And he knows there is something more waiting for him.’
And it’s what Emma would love to see at this year’s MVU—moments that change everything. A child realizing that failure isn’t something to fear but something to celebrate. A student lighting up as they share a project they can’t wait to keep building. A parent watching their kid step into a future that once felt impossible.
Gigi, too, who adds that her hope, as it is every year, is for Kids leaving the program more self-aware, confident, and expressive; feeling safe to take risks, make mistakes, and explore without fear of judgment while also forming deep friendships that feel like family, no matter where they come from or what country they call home.
What to expect at Mindvalley University 2025
MVU is made to be an immersive experience. Two weeks where kids and teens expand their minds, build real-world skills, and connect with a global community that inspires growth.
Solanyi Ulloa, a parent from the Dominican Republic, loved seeing her daughter, Edanyi, be able to socialize with different kids from different cultures.
“I like the Youth Program because I made friends and met new kids,” Edanyi expresses. “I help them when they need help and I like to help.”
That’s the thing with the Youth Programs. Instead of long lectures, kids learn by doing through:
- Hands-on workshops and group activities that build confidence, critical thinking, and leadership,
- Sessions on real-world skills like meditation, goal-setting, conflict resolution, and starting a business with purpose,
- Interactive learning methods such as role-playing, storytelling, and teamwork to develop practical skills they can use right away,
- Guidance from expert educators and global mentors who can help them grow in ways traditional schools don’t, and
- A diverse, international community where kids connect with peers from different cultures, gain new perspectives, and build lifelong friendships.
RuLeecia Rohbock, a U.S. student, loved connecting with diverse cultures in the teens program and exploring new ways to learn. “It’s pretty ingrained into us that we need to go to college right after high school,” she wrote on Mindvalley Stories, but chose MVU instead.
More and more kids and teens are looking for learning experiences that go beyond conventional school.
“It’s truly heartwarming to see how our Youth Programs bring so much joy to our youngest learners,” Gigi shares. Over the years, she and her team have built a space where kids not only expand their potential but also rethink what’s possible beyond MVU.
What moves her most is seeing them realize their own power. “Children are the most potent force there is, and what they can achieve and the impact they can make is limitless when given the right tools,” she adds. “And that’s exactly what we give them.”
This is education designed for the real world. The kind that prepares kids beyond the next test—but for the next ten years of their lives.
Become a changemaker
The world is changing, and education needs to change with it. Kids deserve more than memorization and test scores. They need the confidence, adaptability, and real-world skills to create their own path.
Mindvalley University 2025 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is where that transformation can happen. With Learnlife as a partner, this year’s Youth Programs are designed to do more than teach—they ultimately empower, challenge, and prepare kids for the future they deserve.
Parents who want more for their children don’t have to wait for schools to catch up. The future of learning is already here. The only question is: will your child be part of it?
If the answer is yes… then, welcome in.
