Mastering the Unknown - Education in the 4th Industrial Revolution

This means that there is more disparity between the generations and the knowledge we need to compete or stand out in the market. The teachings from thirty or forty years ago are no longer as applicable as with the previous generations. Three decades ago, terms like digital marketer, social media manager, App developer or blogger didn’t exist. And the future of jobs will be determined by those who innovate and lead the various sciences. This is where the argument for innovative teaching comes into the picture. To tackle the unknown.

Because who knows what the job market will need in the next 2 or 3 decades? 

So how do we overcome this challenge in the 4th Industrial Revolution?

When once asked, what makes the Ivy Leagues stand out from the rest of the world’s higher education, the answer was simple. Their graduates create jobs instead of falling into the cohorts of desk-jobs themselves. 

They master the ability to navigate the unknown, rather than just being experts in the known.

Having basic theories in social and natural sciences are essential. There is no argument there. But the future is ambiguous. AI, cloud computing, robotics, 3D printing, the Internet of Things and advanced wireless technologies are developed by the most agile and free-thinking minds.

If we are stuck with the same theories and mechanics as the past generations, we are condemned to fall short of innovating and changing our abilities to be leaders of modernization. This does not mean that one must neglect the past and avoid any theoretical teachings. But long term consistency in teaching, especially when technology is making rapid changes, will not take us many steps further.

I believe that lecturers and teachers should be able to challenge, not just teach. Students should learn to apply skills to current businesses, taking global corporations to new heights in the 21st century. Collaborative learning, real-life projects and creating a general curiosity around a specific field of study can be keys to approaching the unknown.