The current relevance of global skills is underpinned by international economic competition, advances in technology, and greater diversity and mobility, all resulting from a more globalized world. Increasingly, people recognize that global skills are crucial for their success in the workplace and society at large. Students at all levels of education can benefit from developing global skills to participate more actively in a globalized 21st-century society.
Here Are The Top 5 Global Skills Clusters
In a whitepaper called Global Skills: Creating Empowered 21st Century Citizens, the ELT (English Language Teaching) Expert Panel at Oxford University Press identifies 5 interdependent skills clusters crucial for future success in education, business and society. Check out which global skills might be most beneficial for your future international career!
1 – Communication And Collaboration
The first and probably most critical global skills cluster is communication and collaboration. Communication can be defined as the ability to use language or non-verbal forms of communication in a way that is appropriate for a given context, the communication’s aims, and the medium of communication – face-to-face or digital. It is all about managing social interactions through the use of language and non-verbal communication.
Collaboration involves working together with others and sharing resources towards a common goal. It requires individuals to be willing to learn from others as well as to give away their resources if this benefits the shared goal.
2 – Creativity And Critical Thinking
The process of creativity is the second global skill. It involves thinking innovatively to find new ideas and solutions to existing challenges. Using creativity, a person can develop various interpretations of and responses to topics, issues, and challenges.
Critical thinking goes hand-in-hand with creativity. It requires the ability to assess information and rely on problem-solving skills to make a balanced judgement. Critical thinking also includes evaluating the reliability and accuracy of online and offline sources, which is crucial in any creative process.
3 – Intercultural Competence And Citizenship
Intercultural competence is, without a doubt, a relevant global skill. It refers to the ability to manage cross-cultural encounters respectfully, appropriately, and sensitively.
Furthermore, there is the frequently used term of global citizenship. Citizenship is the understanding of one’s responsibility as a member of society with regard to local and global issues, such as sustainability and inclusivity. Both intercultural competence and citizenship have respect and openness to others at their core.
4 – Emotional Self-regulation And Wellbeing
The fourth skills cluster is emotional self-regulation and wellbeing. The ability to identify, recognize, and understand one’s emotions is called emotional self-regulation. It also includes the knowledge of regulation strategies for managing emotions appropriately. And this is the primary basis for wellbeing.
A sense of purpose and supportive social connections are equally essential for wellbeing. It also involves a commitment to positive physical and mental health practices.
5 – Digital Literacies
The term “digital literacy”, being the fifth cluster, refers to the technical, social, and individual skills needed to navigate one’s way through a variety of growing and ever-changing channels of digital communication. With these skills, one can effectively interpret, manage, share, and create meaning.
Global Skills Prepare For Success In Any Career
Every learner, in any setting, should have access to global skills development programs to prepare for success in any career and on a personal level. Transferable across education and work, global skills are both desirable outcomes of learning and enriching aspects of that learning process.
The whitepaper “Global Skills: Creating Empowered 21st Century Citizens” can be downloaded here.
