The notion that “youth are our future” has been resonated quite profoundly at the United Nations these past few years. The annual “Youth Forum”, the establishment of a Secretary General Envoy of Youth, the increase in the number of youth sessions and panels at high level events, and the increase in youth participation at international events with the various branches of the UN are representative of this fact. It’s clear that youth are becoming more active and involved in their societies. As such, we need to equip them with the skills to effectively contribute to their communities and to ensure that they are prepared to lead their communities to sustainable development and prosperity in the future.
Today, unemployment is a very significant issue that concerns many youth around the world. Hundreds of millions of new jobs are needed to fulfill the demand for youth employment and to deal with the entrance of millions of more youth into the labour market. Also, the search for quality work is becoming more difficult. First, many young graduates are ill-prepared for the world of work, so they largely turn to the informal and traditional rural sectors. Unfortunately, these sectors typically involve vulnerable employment; vulnerable employment stands at 1.44 billion, and in some developing nations, three out of four workers are subject to vulnerable and difficult working conditions. However, it is evident that employment is especially important in achieving other SDGs such as SDGs 1 for the eradication of poverty.
So, how can we prepare youth for the future of work and ensure that they are equipped with the skills to not only find decent employment but to be effective at their employment and to be employed for long periods of time?
Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is one solution to ensure decent work and entrepreneurship, eliminate gender disparity, and to ensure access for the vulnerable. TVET can prepare youth for the emerging fields and can equip youth with skills for self-employment. TVET also equips youth who are low-skilled, from historically disadvantaged groups, or those with a disability with skills development opportunities. However, at the same time, there has been an over reliance and focus on training in the technical areas and especially with technology. This has caused youth to become less skilled in other areas such as public speaking, communication, and collaboration. Since we typically spend so much time on our screens, the time that we speak face to face with others and the time that we form connections with those around us is limited. This is an area that must be improved on, as without these important soft skills, people would not be able to become effective leaders who can communicate with others and inspire those they’re working with.
Finally, a question that many students consider and ask is: what field or major would prepare me best for employment? This is undoubtedly a very difficult question to answer, especially with the complexity of our job markets and the continuous advancements and changes to the world of work. In the past, people limited themselves to one field of study, but today we see the interdisciplinary nature of work and of study. For instance, the field of agricultural sciences involves the study of management, chemistry, architecture, genetics, molecular and microbiology, and economics. As such, there is an overwhelming need for a well-rounded and interdisciplinary approach to education. This ensures that while youth can (and should) have specializations, they can also have knowledge of the interconnected fields that directly impact the field that they’re working in. Further, when people have knowledge of a wide range of areas, they can make better-rounded decisions for their organization or company. This is not only important for the individual’s personal growth and development, but is also important for the progression of our societies and sustainable development.
So, my question for you on World Youth Skills Day is: how can we prepare youth for the future of science (or of work in general)? What type of curriculum or programs would be effective in doing so? How can we achieve a balance between soft and hard skills for youth?
As Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated on International Youth Day, “Young people are an enormous asset to our societies. We must cherish them, invest in them and empower them.” As with all assets, usage and investment of them is vital, and only when we develop these assets well in the beginning and continuously monitor them can we ensure they lead to great returns in the future.
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