TRAINING STUDENTS FOR JOBS THAT DON'T EVEN EXIST YET!

In March 2019, Michael Corcoran, Arete's Head of Professional Development, gave the keynote speech at the Arete Liverpool UK Community Supper. The evening was introduced by Arete Chairman, Chris Lloyd and followed by a formal three-course meal. 

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During his talk, Michael focused on the challenges to traditional education arising from rapid technological advancement. He quoted the World Economic Forum estimate that by 2020 over one-third of the desired core skill sets of most occupations will be comprised of skills that are not yet considered crucial to the job today and that 65% of children entering primary school today will end up working in jobs which don't yet exist. 

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One of the most important things we can do to prepare young people for the challenges of the unknown labour market is to shift our focus from technical or 'hard' skills to transferable 'soft' skills. The skills that successful individuals in the future will have include adaptability, flexibility, tenacity, confidence, creativity and people skills including communications and leadership. These are all important characteristics which we can develop and refine and should form the foundation of the perhaps as yet unknown technical skills which we will develop as required.

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The event was held at The Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool and attended by 100 students from Arete's Liverpool Community who, after the speeches, enjoyed a menu of assorted melon cocktail followed by baked breast of chicken in a white wine and tarragon cream sauce with a selection of seasonal market vegetables and finished off with apple pie and cream. Supper was followed by an evening of socialising and networking.