The New Normal: The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s Demand for Perpetual Learning

By Tae Yoo Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility, Cisco

The world is changing. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here, and it is having an impact on everything, including the future of work. A significant evolution of the labour market is forecast over the next 10 years, and we do not fully know all the jobs of the future.

Given the hyper transformation of technology, business models and work, it is important to understand and anticipate what this means for youth, society, businesses and government, so that everyone has an opportunity to participate in the digital economy. Now more than ever, we need to invest in a new paradigm in the way we acquire the skills needed for jobs – a model that allows for perpetual, renewable skills development.

Imagine a future where educational institutions, employers and individuals work together in an entirely new way. They collaborate fully to provide the foundation for perpetual learning so that everyone can participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

This new paradigm would address ongoing skills development and fuel continuous employment, both for current and future students. New, synergistic consumption models supported by new revenue models for educational institutions are developed. A mutually beneficial hub of learning and innovation is created, based on a new relationship between educational institutions, employers and individuals, with a long-term commitment to ensuring continuous employability.

The boundaries between educational institutions and employers are much more fluid. They work together to create a sustainable, innovative and entrepreneurial digital economy ecosystem in which everyone can participate, at any point in life – youth, displaced workers, the underemployed and the unemployed.

Read the full post on the CECP Insights Blog here.