Four Worlds of Work: Preparing students for the global market

15 Jul 2019

We now live in a world capable of automating repetitive, standardised or time-consuming tasks. In this “Assisted Intelligence” state, STEM skills are most in-demand as they help build this new tech ecosystem.

Emerging soon is an era of “Augmented Intelligence”. As humans and machines work together to make decisions, fundamental changes in the nature of work will occur. The skills that will be most valuable then would be uniquely human traits, like emotional intelligence, creativity, persuasion and innovation.

Next, when adaptive continuous intelligent systems take over decision-making, humans may not be required anymore.

This progression is what equally worries and excites educators worldwide.

By 2030, consulting firm PwC study predicts there are four possible Worlds of Work for 2030. The Red World is where innovation rules and outpaces regulation. Digital platforms give outsized reach and influence to those with winning ideas. The victors in this world are specialists and profit-makers who win the race to serve the needs of individuals and powerful affinity groups.

In the Blue World, big companies are king. Organizations continue to grow bigger, trumping any need to heed social responsibilities. “A corporate career separates the haves from the have-nots,” as the report describes.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Green World. Here, social responsibility and trust matter more than the corporate agenda. It’s a world where companies care. Businesses are concerned less about profits, and more about demographic changes, climate and sustainability.

Lastly, the Yellow World is where social-first and community businesses prosper. The ones that will thrive here are ethical and blameless businesses, makers, artisans and new Worker Guilds. “Humanness is highly valued,” describes the report.

These aren’t conclusive predictions of the future.

As we’ve seen with the advent of revolutionary technology in human history, there will be more surprises to come. The best educators are those who understand these coming changes and prepare their students for all possible scenarios, big or small, negligible or radical.

2030 isn’t far away. The time to act is now. Change is not only happening but accelerating. It is crucial to nurture agility, adaptability and re-skilling.

Among business schools in Canada, these are three that stand out for its depth of preparation for the dynamic futures ahead:

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY, SILBERMAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Silberman College of Business’s latest campus to open in Vancouver, Canada, has loads to offer the aspiring business leader of tomorrow. It is one of the top 5 percent of business schools worldwide with accreditation from AACSB International — the world’s preeminent accreditation authority for collegiate schools of business.

Here, undergraduates get to enrol in one of the top-ranked bachelor’s degrees, with the Vancouver Campus providing a unique and personalised environment for students to grow. With maximum 25 students per class, students can be assured their questions will not go unanswered!

The Vancouver Campus boasts an unmatched diversity in student population with over 70 nationalities represented on campus in Downtown Vancouver. In any classes, students are exposed to various cultures and backgrounds, helping them form intercultural competency. Additionally, as part of the global network of FDU, the Vancouver Campus offers seamless study abroad options to three other FDU Campuses: Metropolitan Campus (Teaneck, New Jersey), Florham Campus (Madison, New Jersey) and Wroxton College (Oxfordshire, UK)

As a not-for-profit institution, the FDU Vancouver Campus is committed to supporting talent around the world by offering generous entrance scholarships for international students. Scholarships range from US$14,640 to US$73,000 over four years of study is based on prior academic achievement. All scholarships are renewable annually for the life of a student’s programme, based on continued academic performance (maintaining a 3.00 GPA or higher).

ALBERTA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

At the heart of Canada’s Great North West is the country’s first and longest continually accredited business school. More than 27,000 alumni have graduated from the Alberta School of Business, strengthening businesses and communities across the globe.

From Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) to Executive MBA to a Business PhD program, each course supports innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Entrepreneurship is further encouraged through the Entrepreneurship@UAlberta cross-faculty initiative – The school partners with a broad range of faculty partners and external stakeholders to catalyze and sustain an interdisciplinary, cross-faculty culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the university. The eHub is where students can find a vibrant entrepreneurial community. At this entrepreneurship center, students can access resources, networking opportunities and funding, as well as the unique opportunity to explore ideas that will transform into projects, initiatives and ventures.

The school’s consistent ranking as one of the top professional development providers in the world makes its Executive Education programs some of the most respected in the world. With over 75 certificate programs and short courses, there’s something for every working professional, organization or government to boost their organizational performance and grow leadership skills.

A variety of international programs provide students with the study abroad opportunities to suit their needs: Outgoing Exchange for a longer experience at a partner institution or International Study Tours for faculty-led shorter courses abroad. The full list of institutions from around the globe with which the School has a formal partnership agreement with can be found here.

YORK SCHULICH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Are you someone who wants to advance your career at a highly-respected business school? If you are, then Schulich is the one for you. Ranked first in Canada by Forbes, CNN Expansion & Corporate Knights, this is a name that will signal to employers that you’re from the country’s most preeminent business school.

Schulich built its reputation by being ahead of the curve, anticipating new and developing trends in business. In 2000, it set up the Sustainable Enterprise Academy and the International Bachelors of Business Administration (iBBA) – both of which are the first in Canada. It also launched the first cross-border EMBA in 2001, the Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) (the first in Canada) in 2012 and most recently the Master of Real Estate & Infrastructure degree program in 2017.

Since its establishment in 1966, its cutting-edge programs have changed the way in which management education is delivered. In total, there are 10 world-class BBA/iBBA specializations, 18 cutting-edge MBA specializations, seven specialized masters programs in accounting, business analytics, finance, management, marketing, real estate & infrastructure, and supply chain; as well as six academic disciplines of PhD scholarship.

Want to prepare for the four worlds of work? It’s hard to go wrong with the business school described by the Financial Times of London: “One of a new breed of 21st century business schools changing the way business is taught.”

*Some of the institutions featured on this article are commercial partners of Study International