Skillset for 21st Century: A Short Note

The present Century, that began with the dawn of the year 2001, is being termed as the 21st century characterised by a world dominated by digital technology. And, it requires appropriate skill-set and competencies to address its challenges. Consequently, both the education system and job markets are reimagining and redefining the academic, professional and life skills for the societal institutions to get their students ready for a successful life in the changed world scenario.

According to the Delors Report (1996) of the UNESCO, the competencies for the 21st century are required to be based on the following four pillars of education: Learning to Know; Learning to Do; Learning to Be and Learning to Live Together.

Wagner (2010) suggests that now educational institutions would have to develop skills of critical thinking and problem solving; collaboration and leadership; agility and adaptability; initiative and entrepreneurialism; effective oral and written communication; accessing and analysing information,; and curiosity and imagination

Also, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills would be required with a pedagogic practice that emphasizes interdisciplinary approach, real-world problem-solving, and inquiry-based learning to foster critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration as per an AI overview. Further, STEM pedagogy is supposed to emphasize learner agency and peeragogy to make learners take ownership of their learning.

Thus, STEM education aims at developing students' ability to apply STEM knowledge and skills in real-world contexts and problems, rather than just memorization the content. In such a context. a STEM educator is meant to encourage students to undertake collaborative projects for viable solution to develop a deeper understanding of STEM concepts by accessing information from various resources including modern digital resources such as internet, simulations and software