Report reveals 21st century competencies

A report has found that high-income economies and their middle-income counterparts are attaching importance on different competencies that their citizens need to have in the 21st century.

High-income economies pay special attention to competencies like information, creativity and problem solving, cross-cultural competence, as well as self-perception and self-control.

In contrast, middle-income economies emphasize more on competencies like science and technology, art, the environment, learning skills and lifelong learning, according to the Education for the Future: the Global Experience of Developing 21 Century Skills and Competencies.

The report was jointly released by China Education Innovation Institute of Beijing Normal University and the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Beijing on Friday.

The findings were based on the research of education policy papers released by 24 economies across the world during the past one and a half decades, abstracting a total of 18 competencies.

These economies included China, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Finland, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, India, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Qatar.

The research was conducted against a backdrop that many countries and international organizations are thinking about how to nurture their future citizens, to help them better adapt to work and life in the new century.

The concept of the 21st century competencies was raised as the report was formed under such circumstances, in hopes of providing policy makers, education leaders, and researchers with a comprehensive understanding of competencies needed in the new century across the world.

”It offers advice on how to nurture these competencies among young people,” said Liu Jian, director of China Education Innovation Institute of Beijing Normal University.

He said the nurturing of the 21st century competencies is a new direction of education reform worldwide.

“Conducting student-centered, cross-disciplinary and practice-focused learning will be effective in nurturing 21st century competencies,” Liu said, adding that these also emphasize China’s curriculum reform in the new century.

Asmaa Alfadala, research director at WISE, said the world is changing fast with technological innovation and frequent communication among people from different countries. To better prepare the next generation, the 21st century competencies can be a good perception to teach knowledge and tap their potential.

The report also found that regardless of the income level, most of the 24 economies acknowledge the significance of competencies like language, mathematics, humanities, sports and health, critical thinking, communication and collaboration, civic responsibilities and social participation.

However, some competencies, like financial competence, life planning and leadership, only cause the attention of people in high-income economies.

zhaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn