ABSTRACT
The transformation happening in the Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 era has thrown a huge challenge before the education system across the world and has given a wake-up call to introspect and align with the changes. Both industry and society have seen a few stages of development, but education is yet to compete with both. This book chapter focuses on studying the growth from Industrial Revolution 1 to 4 and the societal transformation 1 to 5 and also how remote education and its influence can advance the quality of higher education in order to match the expectations. The paradigm shift in education started by moving from only an industry focus to including an informational focus, but now, the need is to also include the society focus. Though distance learning was seen as a compulsion, initially, the benefits were then well-perceived and accepted among the stakeholders. There is a great need to align future-ready 21st-century higher education with the specifications of Industry 4.0 and requirements of Society 5.0 through blended learning. This chapter will assist the academicians and education policymakers in creating an industry-relevant and society-centric curriculum and pedagogy for students who are going to work in a smart epoch of Society 5.0 and industry 4.0. The best practices by the Japanese government prove that this will be the best solution for the society and country in the future. The influence of distance learning had accelerated the higher education system to survive and lead in Society 5.0 which is super-smart, human-centered, and with the power of Industry 4.0.
