Why more of the same isn´t the climax of "better" - thoughts about the future of education

The basic question is: What kind of employees does the future need? 

The answer is easy because internet already tells us: mature ones!

New Work Style vs. Change HR demands

The internet is a inspiring source of communication. What’s missing is the consequential effect on actions and behavior. The demands who future employees should look like are well spoken but nobody seems to feel addressed. HR departments should be!

Top 10 Skills employees should have till 2022 according to the World Economic Forum.

All the “New Work Stylers” are talking about the top new qualifications which should be provided from future employees, such as the list from the WEF (picture above) shows. What’s obvious? Qualifications like detailed specialist knowledge in technological understanding is declining (right side point 4 and 10), in consequence of the arise of technology e. g. Artificial Intelligence. Machines will take over processes which can be automated and release humans from repetitive standard tasks into new match fields. I also address this within the AI Readiness Concept which deals with the effects of AI technology on employees.

Maturity for innovation

What HR departments need to understand is that the request for more professional students with detailed expertise is not supporting innovative or progressively thinking employees like they demand! What it needs is mature people who dare to question learned methods and theories (demanded skills for future employees according to left side point 3, 5, & 8). Creative thinking and innovation means to question the status quo. Only if HR departments open their eyes and see that mature employees with qualifications in understanding system theory, the willingness to take responsibility of their own and emotional maturity/intelligence (left side point 3, 5, & 8!) is worth a thousand more than any in university taught model. 

Because creative thinking and innovation means to question the status quo and not having infinitely technical skills.

If HR departments understand that employees need to be more human than ever (due to the impact of AI for example), the universities and schools will have the opportunity to educate and shape more mature graduates/humans and stop producing technological and disciplinary limited idiots.

A plea for action!

So what I plead for, is an active dialog between HR departments and universities. Education and economy need to design the future actively and in corporation. It´s not enough to visit fancy “New work style” events and talk about the flexibility employees should bring right now – HR departments must invest in the sustainable development of mature employees, stop thinking in company dimensions and start thinking in societal ones instead! Start to get connected to universities, start to rethink study programs and make humans more human than ever! Only HR departments can start this revolution and let all the "fancy talking" follow suits!