It’s safe to say that at Startup Skool, we watch a lot of Ted Talks. Maybe too many Ted talks (if that’s even possible). We thrive on the passion, energy, and innovation of the thought leaders- and ultimately, the power of their ideas to change lives. Recently, we came across a Charles Leadbeater talk on his search around the world for disruptive education. He discusses the future of our education system and the importance of transformational innovation in re-defining it. This concept is one of the many reasons Startup Skool exists today. The biggest question we strive to answer on a daily basis is: how will we teach innovation to the next generation?
Many believe that cutting-edge technology is where future jobs and world problem-solving lies. Enter a surge in the demand for talented coders and the rise of Coding Bootcamps. Yes, coding is very important. The digital world is powered by developers, designers and code. But coding without the ability to innovate, create and communicate… is like a future pie without the crust. We need both.
The tomorrow waiting for the youth of today holds realities no previous generation has faced. They will be applying for work in a global job market along with others from all corners of the world. They will be asked to problem-solve to an unprecedented level, take on roles that do not yet exist, and make decisions about ‘what should I do when I grow up’ in a work world that is evolving and changing daily. According to Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum in That Used To Be Us, only the jobs of innovators and entrepreneurs will survive outsourcing and automation.
It is clear that to succeed in this ever-changing world, whichever career they choose, our children will need to “think like entrepreneurs” — resourceful, flexible, able to take initiative, recognize opportunities, problem solve and innovate when confronted with challenges (Zhao, n.d.). So are they ready for this innovation-driven economy? The answer is no.
“[W]e are not graduating the doers, makers and cutting–edge thinkers the world needs” (Rodov & Truong, 2015). An IBM survey in 2008 found business leaders saying that otherwise qualified graduates lacked the creativity needed to generate new ideas and adapt to change.
Here at Startup Skool we strive to address this gap and nurture the needs of the future. We educate our youth to think with an entrepreneurial mindset – to solve real-world problems, create opportunities in challenges, communicate their ideas, and adapt in an ever-changing world all while developing the technical skills they’ll need to thrive. And of course have fun in the process.
Our hope is to unleash a wave of young innovators with fresh perspectives. Everyone is waiting for them.
References:
Zhao, Y. (n.d). About World Class Learners.
Rodov, F., & Truong, S. Why Schools Should Teach Entrepreneurship.