
WEF Introduces Education 4.0 Taxonomy to Bridge Gap Between Business and Education for Future Skills
Worldwide, the landscape of business and society is undergoing significant changes driven by trends such as rising inequality, disinformation, climate change, and rapid technological advancements.
These changes are also impacting the skills that children need to thrive in this evolving world. However, according to UNESCO, less than half of the world’s children are on track to develop the skills they need to succeed.
Traditional education systems have often prioritized the acquisition of knowledge and information, while interpersonal skills have been overlooked. But research shows that a broad range of skills, including collaboration, empathy, problem-solving, and critical thinking, are essential for academic success and psychological well-being in children.
To address this gap, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has developed a new skills taxonomy called Education 4.0. This framework aims to create a common language between education providers and the business community to drive the skills agenda forward, encourage investment, and guide the implementation of innovative pedagogies from an early age.
The Education 4.0 taxonomy is built on three aptitudes: abilities and skills, attitudes and values, and knowledge and information. It places particular emphasis on abilities and skills, as well as attitudes and values, which are deemed most important by experts and employers.
The taxonomy breaks down these aptitudes into more detailed levels, such as cognitive, interpersonal, and physical skills under abilities and skills, and beliefs related to self-regulatory behavior and engagement with society under attitudes and values.
The rationale behind this taxonomy is to ensure that businesses and education providers are talking about the same skills and concepts, enabling better alignment between supply and demand.
For example, a group project that involves building a gaming app can nurture not only problem-solving skills but also collaboration, communication, socio-emotional awareness, and global citizenship. Similarly, an environmental clean-up project can teach problem-solving, civic mindset, environmental stewardship, and communication skills through group work.
The report suggests that businesses, governments, educators, and parents all have a role to play in equipping children with the right skills. Businesses can collaborate with schools and education communities, aligning their insights into how skills are used in the workplace.
Governments can update curricula and teacher training programs to reflect Education 4.0 skills and communicate their importance to teachers and parents. Educators can adapt their teaching practices to nurture Education 4.0 skills and provide opportunities for students to observe skills in the workplace. Parents can foster skills at home through play and community involvement.
In conclusion, as the world of business and society evolves, so do the skills children need to succeed. The Education 4.0 skills taxonomy developed by the World Economic Forum aims to bridge the gap between businesses and education providers by providing a common language and understanding of skills, promoting collaboration and innovation, and preparing young learners and societies for the future.
WEF Introduces Education 4.0 Taxonomy to Bridge Gap Between Business and Education for Future Skills