The world around us is as fast-changing as ever.. Technological and communication advancements combined with the global pandemic have driven a huge transformation in the last nearly two years. As a result, the future of work looks different to how we had imagined it as little as a year ago. With so much uncertainty surrounding what jobs will exist when our students graduate, how can we prepare them for their future?

What does the future of work look like?

Perhaps one of the most surprising changes in the last 2 years has been a shift from offices to home-working.  Many companies, large and small, are now shunning the traditional office for more flexible working arrangements. Does this mean that offices as we’ve known them will be a thing of the past by the time our children join the world of work? This is looking far more likely to be the case – and it’s happening sooner than we realise.

Additionally, workspaces are predicted to be mostly digital going forward. New technologies, AI, specialist software and digital services will do away with mundane day-to-day tasks such as repetitive or administrative tasks such as data entry, filing and creating spreadsheets. Instead, demand for a variety of new roles will develop, which need newly emerging skills, such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility. So, how can we prepare students for this?

Approaching careers guidance differently

Careers guidance has changed dramatically in the last few years; these changes are being driven for many reasons, but probably the most common one is what’s called 4th industrial revolution.  Technological and global developments are introducing changes to the workplace at an unprecedented rate.

This is reflected in the UK with its school inspection body Ofsted asserting that careers should be considered and assessed as part of the curriculum. COBIS, our accreditation body has also been pushing this in recent webinars, and with Alice Smith School’s dedication to innovation, we have been aligning our school with these changes. We strongly believe in not just keeping up with the rate of change but pushing forward so that we are at the forefront of 21st Century careers guidance.

Put simply, the question ‘What do you want to do?’ has ceased to be relevant in such a unpredictable environment. Instead, the question being asked is ‘Who do you want to be?’.

Developing student’s skillset

By guiding students in this way we are giving them the skills to help guide them through their careers for the duration of their lifetime, as opposed to focusing on one static path.

The way in which we as a school are developing our careers guidance has changed as a result, with a number of brilliant practical and technical innovations being implemented across years 7 to 13. We want to give Alice Smith students skills and flexibility so that they are ready for all possible outcomes in the future labour market. This includes helping all students develop their soft skills.

Soft skills are non-technical skills such as critical-thinking, collaboration, time management, creativity, problem-solving, flexibility and resilience. These soft skills will be valued highly by employers in the future as this increase in technology in the workplace continues. But it doesn’t end there.

Utilising platforms to support student success

At Alice Smith, we also believe in utilising softwares and programmes that promote and support our students’ successes. Each student in year 10 and above has access to our college and career planning platform called Cialfo, an online platform that students and parents can use to help in planning their educational and career pathway.

Cialfo allows students to:

  • Complete career and personality assessments.
  • Explore different career pathways.
  • Enter their extracurricular activities to start building a skills profile.
  • Prepare and create a CV.
  • Research and build lists of potential universities, worldwide.
  • Attend university fairs and information sessions online.
  • Apply to chosen universities and manage their applications.
  • Reflect on their skills, interests and passions in the context of their career and university goals.
  • And much more!

This platform helps broaden their horizons whilst ensuring they get the most out of their education at Alice Smith.

Also, parents can use the platform too through its innovative guardian account feature, allowing them to see notes on any applications or CVs, any tasks assigned, access to their child’s applications and university shortlists and attend any fairs or events hosted as well.

Get in touch with Alice Smith School today

To learn about our international school in Kuala Lumpur and see if it’s a good fit for your child, you can download a prospectus. Visit our KLASS blog to keep up to date with the goings-on in the school and read our student stories. You can also explore our campuses, and read our past student experiences from the Alice Smith School family.