As the rise in automation and technology in the workplace increases, it will lead to the need to re-skill and up-skill the current workforce. And this will be an ongoing process.
Looking at the changing nature of today’s workforce and the evolution to lifelong learning, education is ripe for disruption. According to Goldman Sachs research, “education is reaching a tipping point as the gap widens between the skills delivered by the current system and those required by the digital economy.”
Alvin Toffler, American writer, futurist has once said: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”
We need to learn and relearn to be able to survive in this era of technological disruption. The future as predicted will be completely different from what we see today. However, our youth is not prepared to live in such a world. The question that arises now is that are we equipping them with the skills required to be adaptable, innovative, and purpose-driven in such a world?
Today’s education system is way too old for the kids studying in the exponential era. They are going to compete with machines and make no mistake those machines are much smarter. We are slowly shifting from competition for knowledge to competition for creativity. Our attitude toward education needs to change.
According to the World Economic Forum, the skills required to thrive in this digital age is quite different from what we are trained in. Let’s take a look at the skills required for today’s exponential era:
Complex problem solving: Problem-solving is an essential skill set that is a must to succeed today. A person who possesses good, strong problem-solving skills can make a huge difference at his workplace and the arena’s around him.
Critical thinking: Again an essential skillset that will decide the future of a child. A child’s ability to critically think and come up with solutions can be a boon in all situations.
Creativity: Creativity sets us apart from the machines. It helps us be better than the robots and helps us establish our role in the world we live in.
People management: This is the most difficult task of all. You can manage anything but managing a human being is not easy. Hence, a deep understanding of human psychology is required to manage people.
Coordinating with others: This is something which can only be managed by a human. Therefore, our learning should include lessons in co-operation, teamwork and coordination.
Emotional intelligence: It’s good to have a high Intelligent Quotient but it is also vital to have a higher Emotional Quotient. Our survival in the coming age depends on it.
Judgement and decision making: A child needs to learn how to make decisions quickly so as to be an effective worker in the digital age.
Conclusion: McKinsey Global Institute’s study has highlighted that a multiple-range of jobs based on human skills will be affected by AI and automation. It says that workers will require to develop the aforementioned skill sets to survive.
