Annual research and policy symposium: Skills for a changing world

Education systems across the world are undertaking transformations in order to develop essential skills and competencies in students to be successful in the 21st century. This global movement is reacting to and preparing for changing social, technological, and economic demands. In order to be effective, the full breadth of skills, from literacy and numeracy to creativity, collaboration, and problem solving, must be cultivated across age groups and learning environments, including school, community, home, and society at large.

On April 5, the Center for Universal Education at Brookings hosted its Annual Research and Policy Symposium, which marked the launch of “Skills for a Changing World: National Perspectives and the Global Movement,” a new report on the current global, regional, and national level movement toward recognizing breadth of skills within education systems. The report includes summary case studies from Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, and South Africa.

Through a series of public discussions, the symposium highlighted current views across curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy on including a range of skills. Policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and thought leaders discussed design and implementation practices to ensure all children have high-quality learning opportunities that build the skills necessary to create vibrant, healthy societies in a rapidly changing world.