VIVAN Life Sciences Blog
“The only skill that will be important in the 21st century is the skill of learning new skills. Everything else will become obsolete over time.”
The workplace dynamic is changing faster than ever and thanks to the incredible advancements being made by automation aided by artificial intelligence, this rate of change will only increase with the passage of time.
Global trends clearly indicate that any job that is not process-based or rule-based will allow a human being the opportunity to excel in it while process-based and rule-based jobs will be better performed by smart machines.
In order to prepare the future human capital to excel in this future of work, they must be equipped with the most relevant 21st-century skills.
What are 21st-century skills?
21st-century skills are transferable soft skills that can be extended in different settings and help support the learning of technologies.
21st Century skills are 12 abilities that today’s students need to succeed in their careers during the Information Age.
Selected 21st century skills, previously known as soft skills, have been deemed critical to modern workplaces. These are the skills that today’s graduates need in order to succeed in their careers during the Information Age, remaining competitive in the ever changing job market.
The twelve 21st Century skills are:
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Information literacy
- Media literacy
- Technology literacy
- Flexibility
- Leadership
- Initiative
- Productivity
- Social skills
Each skill is unique in how it helps students, but they all have one quality in common: they are essential in the age of the internet.
Empowering the 21st Century skills:
Learning to accept, act, react, and adapt to these exponential changes would be needed when facing this century made of uncertainty and unpredictability.
Preparing students for 21st-Century skills requires a concerted effort from educators, parents, and policymakers. It is essential that we prioritize the development of these vital competencies in our youth so that they can thrive in an ever-changing world.
We must prepare our students for jobs that do not even exist yet.
Remember: illiterate of the 21st-century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.
Are you ready to take on the next century of work?
