Future of Education and Skills 2030/2040

OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030/2040  facilitates countries' sharing and development of new knowledge on the future of curriculum design, implementation and evaluation.

The purpose of the project is to assist countries in making their education system more responsive by examining the kinds of 21st century competences (knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values) that students and teachers require to be competitive in the future. Towards this end, the Project identifies two strands of work:

Strand 1: Learning and Teaching for 2030

With this concept and vision-making stream of activity, the work involves a broad range of stakeholders (governments, school principals, teachers, students, researchers, social partners, etc.) in an international discussion with a view to building a mutual language/vision articulating shared aspirations for a better education future. In turn, the OECD Learning Compass has thus been co-designed to articulate the kinds of competencies that are regarded as being key for learners to thrive in the future. Likewise, the OECD Teaching Compass has also been co-designed to provide the kinds of competencies teacher will require in order to empower their learners towards creating a more prosperous future.

Strand 2: International Curriculum Analysis

In this strand of work, the project encourages an integrated strategy of planning, implementation, and assessment of future curricula. It makes comparative studies on curriculum matters that are highly relevant and ought to be prioritized in translating the vision of education (OECD Learning Compass). Its studies include trends in reconstructing curriculum, innovations in curriculum implementation and assessment, and learning from other countries in terms of curriculum reformation.

OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 seeks to establish a common vision of key underlying concepts that are worthwhile to enable students to thrive and have a better future. Key concepts are, for example, student agency, student well-being and competences (knowledge, skills, attitudes, values). Policy frameworks for teaching and learning are developed in common by policymakers, researchers, school leaders, teachers and students worldwide.

The future, by its very nature, is uncertain; but by remaining sensitive to some of the trends that are presently sweeping across the globe we can learn – and teach our children to learn – how to adapt to, flourish in and even shape whatever the future holds. The students must be led to develop not just skill and knowledge, but also attitude and values that can lead them towards ethical and responsible behavior. They must simultaneously be provided with the scope to develop their creative ingenuity to assist in leading mankind to a brighter tomorrow.