Preparing Students for the Future: Imparting 21st Century Skills
by
Dr. Mustafa Malik
Associate Professor & Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, CEMIS
During the recent Annual Staff Meeting of the University of Nizwa, the Chancellor, Prof. Ahmed Al Rawahi, underscored the critical need to impart 21st Century Skills to students. This emphasis directly concerns us as academics, highlighting our responsibility to prepare students for the evolving job market.
The urgency is evident from the recent global job market trends. The Future of Jobs Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) predicts that nearly 39% of current skill sets will either be transformed or become obsolete between 2025 and 2030. In its 2015 report, the WEF pointed out that 65% of children entering primary school are expected to work in jobs that do not yet exist. Recent unprecedented advancements in technology, globalization, and automation are reshaping industries, rendering many traditional roles obsolete.
In response, higher education must recalibrate its approaches to prepare students for these future demands. However, to succeed in an unpredictable future job market, students need a robust combination of professional, interpersonal, and adaptability skills alongside the technical knowledge and skills they gain in their majors or programs. These skills, what are as well called as 21st Century Skills, can be categorized into several key areas such as Learning Skills – 4C’s as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication – these are career readiness skills that help students to effectively adapt and adjust to the work environment, Literacy Skills - information, media, and technology - these are skills that are required by the students to be able to determine and differentiate between trustworthy and fake sources of information, as well as between factual and misinformation, especially that floods the internet and social media these days. These skills also emphasize students’ awareness of the ethical use of seeking and sharing information especially when using technology, and finally the Life Skills - flexibility, leadership, initiative, productivity, and social skills – these skills focus on both personal and professional qualities of students that make them effectively deal with the day to day life and professional challenges.
For us as educators and academic leaders, the task is clear: revamp curricula, revive teaching methods, and enhance institutional environments to align with the needs of a rapidly changing job market. This transformation requires a shift from rote learning to fostering adaptability, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. Furthermore, as the industries are fast evolving, the jobs they create are fast transforming requiring new skills. Education institutions must collaborate with the industry and stay updated with the evolving industry requirements to ensure graduates are well-equipped with futuristic skills. Being proactive in equipping students with 21st Century Skills is not a choice but a necessity for higher education institutions.
