The 21st century has been characterised by changes in the economy, the nature of society and situations in the ecological environment. Teaching and learning processes have never been the same since the demand for work-related competencies, the type of information available and the way that education and training systems must be implemented must now conform with the dramatic transformations in the culture of learners and teachers. These are described in detail by the author as he enumerates globalisation with the emergence of a knowledge society, information and communication technology (ICT), climatic change and sustainable development as the main global trends that have been observed to have impacts on teacher education. Similarly, recent changes that have rendered the usual value and outcome of conventional teacher education obsolete are also discussed. The paper concludes with a set of the emerging roles of teachers and learners in a new learning and work environment. (Contains 6 tables and 2 figures.)