The starting point for the enormous career of the Future Skills concept is the insight that current concepts of higher education do not meet the urgent needs of our societies with convincing future concepts. Neither are they fit to help sustain our environment nor associated social or economic challenges. While social challenges are exacerbated by an accelerating process of globalisation and digital advancement, at the same time these are the very forces that enable a multitude of new options for human development. In this situation of digital acceleration, the characteristic feature is that of uncertainty and the inevitable necessity is that of creative responsibility. The NextSkills Studies are about models for future relevant skills, so-called Future Skills. They are developed through a multitude of research activities over the last decade, involving a diverse range of international experts. Future Skills are the skills that enable future graduates to master the challenges of the future in the best possible way. The results show that in order to deal with future challenges, students must develop curiosity, imagination, vision, resilience and self-confidence, as well as the ability to act in a self-organised way. They must be able to understand and respect the ideas, perspectives and values of others, and they must be able to deal with mistakes and regressions, while at the same time progressing with care, even against difficulties.

Canada has introduced a set of programmes to test novel approaches to skills development. This report analyses the potential of these programmes to improve the future-readiness of Canada’s adult learning system.

An increasing societal trend is the belief that the 21st century requires a rethink of the education system. Change is happening fast and our students are growing up in a world where jobs are not certain or guaranteed. "The purpose of education is to prepare students for a world we can't envisage, so when they are stuck, they choose to think, instead of remember". Alongside this, there is also a need for education systems to impart higher level skills aligned with the demands of growing economies, where many jobs are being automated and skill sets are changing fast. Are professionals, employers and educational institutions ready for the challenge of developing the new skills this future will demand? This book has evolved out of many years of implementing innovation in education, it has been written because we believe we have something to say which might inspire, support or encourage other educationalists to take action to align the education our schools deliver with the needs of the 21st century.

COVID-19 is likely to leave long-lasting effects on local labour markets. It is accelerating a pre-existing trend towards automation, as firms look even more to new technologies to pandemic proof their operations.

This open access handbook offers a one-stop-shop for both new and established researchers, educators, policy makers and administrators in the field of open, distance and digital education (ODDE) to gain a comprehensive overview of the history, theory and practice at all levels of ODDE, and at the same time stimulates in-depth discussions on various themes and issues of ODDE for today and future. Researchers, scholars and students in the field of ODDE can use this handbook as a major reference to conduct their own research and learning agendas. To cover the field comprehensively, the handbook is structured following the 3M framework developed by one of the chief editors Zawacki-Richter. The 3M framework categorizes the major research areas and issues in ODDE on three levels. Accordingly, the handbook is divided into six sections in total, two section at each of the three levels: 1) Macro Level – ODDE Systems and Theories, 2) Meso Level - Institutional Perspectives, Management and Organization, and 3) Micro Level – Learning and Teaching in ODDE. This is an open access book.

With the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly escalating higher education’s move online, this timely Handbook offers holistic conceptualisations of digital higher education which consider personal, pedagogic, and organisational level change. Key findings from digital education research are aligned with case studies of institutional practices, to consider the current and future role of digital technologies in higher education.

New technologies provide us with new opportunities to create new learning experiences, leveraging research from a variety of disciplines along with imagination and creativity. The Learning Ideas Conference was created to bring researchers, practitioners, and others together to discuss, innovate, and create. The Learning Ideas Conference 2023 was the 16th annual conference and was held as a hybrid event. The conference took place from June 14–16, 2023., both in New York and online, and included a special track: The ALICE (Adaptive Learning via Interactive, Collaborative and Emotional Approaches) Special Track. Topics covered in this book include among others: online learning methodologies, diversity and inclusion in learning, case studies in university and corporate settings, new technologies in learning (such as virtual reality, augmented reality, holograms, and artificial intelligence), adaptive learning, and project-based learning. The papers included in this book are of interest to researchers in pedagogy and learning theory, university faculty members and administrators, learning and development specialists, user experience designers, and others.

Industry 5.0 is a growing field that has many potential future directions and opportunities for businesses and companies. To ensure society is prepared for this evolving technological world, further study is required on the potential challenges and pitfalls. Advanced Research and Real-World Applications of Industry 5.0 presents an overview of Industry 5.0 and related advanced research and real-world applications. The book also discusses several real-time issues, problems, and applications with corresponding solutions and suggestions. Covering critical topics such as optimization models, cybersecurity threats, and sustainability, this reference work is ideal for business owners, computer scientists, industry professionals, managers, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

The college sector is facing a growing number of new challenges caused by technological change, globalisation and the growth of mass higher education. New Frontiers for College Education considers the impact these changes have had and explores the developing role of college education in countries throughout the world. Whilst analysing the issues associated with providing high quality vocational education and training, the book also reflects on the role of colleges in widening access to both further and higher education. Drawing together contributions from leading international academics, policymakers and practitioners, the book explores common themes across these diverse societies, as well as some of the key challenges experienced within individual countries. It considers the distinctive contributions that colleges can make in responding to these challenges through apprenticeships and other types of vocational education and training. Contributors discuss the growing emphasis on creating more integrated systems of tertiary education, recognising that colleges and universities are now expected to work more closely together and that these diverse demands can be difficult to reconcile. Providing an authoritative and timely analysis of the changing role of colleges in contemporary society, this book will be of great interest to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the areas of further and higher education, vocational education and training, lifelong learning, and skills development. It should also be essential reading for policymakers, as well as practitioners working in colleges and other institutions of higher and further education.

This book presents an up-to-date account of current English-language English teaching and General Studies practices in the UAE. The chapters, written by leading language teacher educators, feature theoretical and empirical aspects of teaching, learning, assessment as well as related research. Throughout the book, the link between theory and practice is highlighted and exemplified. This reader-friendly book is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, researchers and administrators of English language and general studies programs in the UAE and beyond who wish to keep abreast of recent developments in the field.