A brief review of the UNESCO-APEID Conference
By Jim Playfoot

There is an intense debate arising regarding 21st Century skills: what is it that individuals need from education that can help them survive and thrive in the 21st century?. What do we actually mean by 'skills'? Can empathy, for instance, be considered a skill? Who should be the designers of tomorrow's curricula?

These questions, and many more, were the focus of the UNESCO-APEID conference in October 2010, which I had the privilege of attending and at which I presented the key findings of the Effective Education for Employment project.

Human Capital Redefined
No longer is human capital purely an economic concept; rather it is about jobs, family and community. As one speaker noted, many are advocating for a fundamental change in the purpose of education, shifting from human resource development to 'human being development', as the social outcomes of learning are increasingly important in defining the value of education and are thereby pushing education further up many political agendas.

21st Century Skills
Additionally, as a number of speakers mapped out the qualities needed in the 21st Century, it became clear that very few are actively taught in schools, either directly or indirectly. As such, learners are short-changed by education and, to become effective employees, they have to look elsewhere to develop themselves.

Effective Education for Employment
We are excited to report that Edexcel's Effective Education for Employment (EEE) project is entirely in line with that of other international organizations, including UNESCO, ILO and the World Bank. When conference speakers addressed 21st Century skills, the focus was on things like 'winning personality', 'integrity and sensitivity', 'collaborative problem solving', which are very much in line with the EEE findings.

Throughout the conference, it was evident that policymakers are now prepared to make radical changes in the way education is designed and delivered, and that the status quo is being revitalized by ideas for bold reform. This is clearly a critical time where the very concept of education is changing and minds are open about the future shape of education systems.