Welcome to episode 6 of the Art of Learning podcast.听听
We鈥檙e joined by听蜜桃app鈥檚听Simon Young, Portfolio听Director, BTEC Asia,听to discuss what it truly means to upskill the workforce in the modern economy and the importance of听career-focused qualifications.听听
We talked about how upskilling unlocks the true power听of the workforce (1:01),听changing the perception of vocational education听through the success of BTEC听(3:35), the process of building a BTEC qualification听(8:29),听why educators love teaching a BTEC qualification (12:14),听the popular BTEC qualifications in Southeast Asia听(14:30), how BTEC can work for learners who want to听go to university听and more听(17:44).听
For governments in Thailand and Vietnam, understanding the behaviours and career aspirations of their future workers is critical.听听
Informed by learnings and research听conducted by 蜜桃app听and Nielsen, this infographic provides听exclusive听insight into the study, work and career ambitions of Thai and听Vietnamese urbanites.听
Countries like Vietnam and Thailand are ideally placed to shift their educational priorities and equip their youth with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly digital world.听听
The world of work is changing, and it is up to all stakeholders 鈥� students, educational institutions and government authorities 鈥� to identify and adapt to the latest trends in order to prepare learners and furnish them with the skills needed in the workplaces of the future.听听
Across the region, the workforce is adequately peopled, and projected to grow at a steady clip but a shortage of skills is in danger of holding Southeast Asian economies back, 蜜桃app research shows. Hard skills, like technical abilities, and soft skills such as communication, coupled with a willingness to learn throughout one鈥檚 career, are crucial to closing the skills gap and enabling Southeast Asians to compete on an equal footing in a global playing field.听听听
The students who are choosing what and how to study today will be entering the job market in the 2030s 鈥� and it is a world full of unknowns. According to a听听by McKinsey,听the change needs to start at elementary schools, as 85% of today鈥檚 young learners will, by 2030, find themselves working in professions that do not yet exist. Therefore, it is听crucial to condition learners to be flexible enough to adapt and learn new skills as they progress in their education and into their careers.听听
Key to how we鈥檒l work in the future is the world鈥檚 ongoing digital transformation 鈥� the so-called 鈥�.鈥澨齌he attendant trends of听globalisation听and automation are also changing the way companies do听business, and听learning skills that complement the changing career landscape will be key to success in the years to come.听听
A golden opportunity听听
There is ample opportunity for change and improvement in Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam.听Currently, almost half of the Vietnamese workforce, and over three-quarters of workers in Thailand, are classed as 鈥渕edium skilled,鈥� according to recent data from the听.听听
The two countries are in a transitory period 鈥� moving from agriculture and manufacturing-driven growth鈥痶o more dynamic, knowledge-based economies.鈥疶his presents an ideal opportunity to refocus the two countries鈥� educational听priorities, and听equip their citizens with the right skill sets for the future.听听听
Going forward, the goal for these countries鈥� governments is to shift the needle towards not only a larger proportion of higher skilled workers in their respective听labour听pools, but also to produce workforces better able to compete on the global stage, thus attracting more outside investment.听听听听
As a result, for the two governments, vocational education has become a high priority, including supporting institutions that implement programs like 蜜桃app鈥檚 vocational and听experience-based听BTEC courses.听听
Well-rounded education听听
The administrations of Thailand and Vietnam are both keen to see improvements in hard skills 鈥� specific, learned technical abilities, such as qualifications in information technology, reading and writing proficiency, as well as presentation and project management skills.听听
These are specific skills that need to be directly taught, according to Stuart Connor, 蜜桃app Asia鈥檚 Qualifications & Assessment Director. At the same time, he adds, there are more general, or soft skills, which are more innate but no less important. These include interpersonal skills, such as the ability to collaborate, network and听empathise听with fellow workers.听听
Equally as important is the soft skill of communication 鈥� teaching students to collaborate effectively across cultures, borders and languages. Part of this skill is a confident grasp of English - the dominant global medium of communication, says Simon Young, 蜜桃app鈥檚 BTEC Portfolio Manager in Asia.
鈥淚t seems that English has become a key skill for communicating in business in any role,鈥� he says. 鈥淚n countries such as Thailand, where you might see a strong local workforce, the interaction with other divisions does require a strong ability to communicate in English.鈥澨�
As the world becomes ever-more connected and borders less important to global business, an increasing number of workers are seeing English as crucial to their career development 鈥� as many as nine in 10 global employees consider it important, according to 蜜桃app research. Less than one in 10, however, feel that their English language ability is adequate for the role they have. This is a crucial skill gap to address because language proficiency is also key to honing a range of soft skills.听
鈥淟anguage skills alone will not make someone employable, but someone is far more likely to be employable if they have language skills, as it supports the development of many of the other skills [such as communication and collaboration] needed to be employable,鈥� Stuart says. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e Vietnamese or Thai, and if you can speak English, you are ticking a multitude of soft skill boxes, too.鈥澨�
Welcome to episode 5 of the Art of Learning podcast, brought to you by 蜜桃app Asia.听听
We鈥檙e joined by Jason Gregory, International Director,听UK BTEC & Apprenticeships听at 蜜桃app, and Simon Young,听Portfolio听Director, BTEC Asia听at 蜜桃app, to discuss听why it's important to constantly and effectively upskill the workforce in the new economy.听听
We explore the idea of the fourth industrial revolution and what it means for job听prospects and employment patterns in听Southeast Asia听(1:08),听the insights from conversations with government ministers and business leaders听on听addressing听the future skills challenge (3:42),听the definition of upskilling (8:04),听the听need for听collaboration among听learners, educators and governments听to听affect education policy change听(10:13),听蜜桃app鈥檚 role in Thailand as a strategic partner for industry and government (12:09),听the听steps governments and industry can take to ensure听their听sufficiently investing听in听future skills听strategies听(15:35),听how COVID-19 has accelerated underlying trends and increased the urgency to upskill听(18:16),听and听the importance of applying a 鈥榣ifelong learning鈥� mindset (23:22).听听
