As technology becomes more pervasive, traditional trades disappear and the world of work becomes more globalised and collaborative, the skills demanded by employers are shifting. So how can education best prepare young people to navigate their way through an increasingly interconnected and complex world?
To shed light on these issues, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) embarked on a research programme, sponsored by Google, to examine to what extent the skills taught in education systems around the world are changing. For example, are so-called 21st-century skills, such as leadership, digital literacy, problem solving and communication, complementing traditional skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic? And do they meet the needs of employers and society more widely?