6 Essential Skills for Students in Today’s Global Economy

The world has become smaller and more competitive
By Farid Gasim

Are students ready to compete on a global level? The world has become smaller and more competitive with the advancement in technology. As educators, what can we do to prepare the next generation so they can be ready to take on the world?

“Students have to understand that the world is much broader than your backyard. Especially with urban universities—students who are not well travelled may not have had opportunities to go out of their regions, much less out of the country, it takes a while to warm them up to the task,” said Jackie Jones, Chair of the Department of Multimedia Journalism at Morgan State University.

Jones advised students to read things that they are not comfortable with and put themselves in situations that take them out of their comfort zone so they can learn how to adjust to any situation that crops up.

Meanwhile, Dennis Bonilla, the Executive Dean of the School of Information Systems and Technology at the University of Phoenix said: “In order to solve the competitiveness issue for most of the emerging countries and the developed countries, there is going to have to be an evolution of talent that really understands global needs.”

Both children and adults need to develop six important skills to succeed in the modern global economy.

Students must have these essential skills in order to prepare for a globally-competitive world. Everyone must embrace cultural diversity to be able to succeed in life.

1.) Collaboration

Students must develop the ability to work with others, to have social-emotional control, and to form communities.

2.) Communication

Students must have the ability to develop strong reading, writing, listening and language skills.

3.) Content

Students must be competent in subject areas, but also in learning to learn.

4.) Critical thinking

Students must have the ability to gather information intelligently and to weigh the evidence.

5.) Creative innovation

Students must have the ability to use information in new ways and to solve problems.

6.) Confidence

Students must have the ability to learn from failure and to persist in a problem.

According to author Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, the Stanley and Deborah Lefkowitz Professor of Psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, success in education should be defined in a broader way. It should aim to develop students as creators, collaborators, and citizens of the future. Instead of thinking about how teachers teach best, educators must try to think about how people learn best.

Students need to learn to look for experiences that will help them learn. Being creative, and above all, not being afraid to mess up, is the key to learning. Learning happens when people make mistakes.
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Further Reading

1. Global Digital Citizen – The Critical 21st Century Skills Every Student Needs and Why
2. Thoughtful Learning – What are 21st century skills?
3. Edutopia – Overcoming Obstacles to Critical Thinking