Our workplace has evolved with the advent of technology. These days, companies hire people who are good at more than one thing, making it necessary for current students starting from grade school to learn skills that will allow them to take on more focused technical skills when they enter college, and finally the workplace.
Thankfully, schools are adapting to the change – starting from grade school to universities where some courses are hybrid of two or more particular skills and expertise. In any case, basic skills derived from grade schools are still the prime importance as it will serve as the academic foundation of a child moving forward academically. Here are the skills your children need to learn from schools for their future work.
Digital literacy. Our workplace has become heavily technology-invested. Even younger kids need to acquire skills that will help them better navigate the technologically-inclined world as early as possible. Many of these skills are derived from regular use of technology, but proper skills need to be taught to students for eventual professional use.
Digital literacy allows students to obtain the skills to use technology in the workforce, including integrating new technologies still being developed or launched.
Global citizenship. Our world is a global society – now more than ever. Due to the technological boom, it’s very easy for companies to do business worldwide. This blurred line gave rise to the contingent workforce. To be successful in the business world, it’s crucial for students as young as they are to understand the role of globalization in the society and change their approach to their environment, starting with their classmates. This is especially true for expat kids.
We’ve seen the increased focus on the global online collaboration. This makes learning the concept of global citizenship even more important for students to let them work harmoniously with people from all over the world. Because the world will continue to work cooperatively even more, a sense of global citizenship and the ability to work with people from all over the world are indispensable skills needed to secure and thrive in future jobs.
Emotional intelligence. We have a stereotype in the business where successful people are deemed as cold and emotionless, with only business in mind. Regardless, emotions allow people to think critically and gives all of us our unique personality. Rather than persecuting emotions, people are taught starting from a younger age to control their emotions. This will help them be more effective in the workplace in the future.
It’s also vital to foster interpersonal relationships. Emotional intelligence gives children the knowledge and skills to manage emotions to communicate in the future workplace successfully.
Assessing and analysis. Because of technology (again), information and data are now a mainstay in businesses to achieve goals. From data analysis to key performance indicators (KPIs), information is used to create strategies and formulate critical business decisions.
Thus, the skills to assess and analyze information are crucial skills required for future jobs. Students who have this skill will have the apt knowledge to be part of this process.
That’s it. You may be wondering – “can’t these be learned at home?” Of course, learning starts at home and your kids should have the basic foundational skills to be a good student and an integral part of the community. The skills listed above are nurtured by a good learning institution. The listed are a hallmark importance with International Curricula of international schools like Global Indian International School (GIIS) in Singapore. Remember, the younger kids are taught the right skills, the better of they’ll be in the future – not just academically, but in the working world.
