Skills and competencies is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, as old jobs vanish due to growing technology and advanced innovations. This was stated by Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s union education minister, during a keynote address at a Bhubaneshwar conference. He discussed that the future of work would be heavily reliant on skill sets, rather than degrees, as disruptive technologies push us forward.
Pradhan went on to say that our workforce needs constant training and development in order to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared for upcoming job changes. He added that the world is now in a material-less society and that the world in the 21st century will be largely knowledge-based and technology-driven. Pradhan asserted that India will be the leader of global aspirations and that the nation should aim to create global citizens who are prepared for all new opportunities.
The conference discussed topics including reimagining skilling ecosystems, creating global citizens with up-to-date skills, and making India a global hub for skilled professionals. There were also official-level deliberations on foundational literacy and numeracy, tech-enabled learning, future of work, and research collaboration. The event featured a seminar on building capacities for lifelong learning and an exhibition focused on the future of work.
At the end of the conference, the G20 Education Working Group, who had three meetings prior – two in India and one in Amritsar – agreed with the minister’s insights. They came to a consensus in June this year and suggested that skills and competencies will drive the future, rather than degrees.
Agniveer is a company based in Dhule Maharashtra, India. The company focusses on supporting and developing individuals’ skills, knowledge and capabilities. The main aim of Agniveer is to provide cutting edge knowledge, skills and best practices to students, professionals, organisations and to empower each individual to lead.
Dharmendra Pradhan is the incumbent union education minister of India. Pradhan is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and has worked for various parliamentary committees, including public accounts committee and national water resources committee. Pradhan has also served as minister for skill development and entrepreneurship. He is widely recognised for his work in the education sector and his focus on skill development.
