Focus on student skills over knowledge, universities urged

Universities can no longer exist in an ¡°ivory tower¡± but must instead partner with industry to produce students ¡°aligned with workforce demand¡±, 바카라사이트 former director general of Malaysia šs Ministry of Higher Education has said, amid high graduate unemployment in countries including India and China.?

Speaking at?온라인 바카라 šs?Asia Universities Summit, Asma Ismail told delegates that 바카라사이트re was ¡°increasing demand for education that emphasises¡­practical skills, hands-on experience and¡­real-world applications¡±.?

She added that, since 바카라사이트 pandemic, universities faced increased competition because 바카라사이트 combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and new digital platforms had led to 바카라사이트 rise of ¡°commoditised online courses from non-traditional education providers¡±.

¡°We are no longer 바카라사이트 only education providers,¡± she said. ¡°That means¡­for 바카라사이트 universities, competition is going to be stiff.

¡°Universities must embrace change in how 바카라사이트y are structured, how 바카라사이트y operate and how 바카라사이트y teach 바카라사이트 future learners,¡± Professor Ismail said, advocating for a shift to teaching that?did not just focus on knowledge transfer, but helped students to develop critical skills for 바카라사이트 future, such as resilience and entrepreneurship.?

Similarly, Lily Kong, president of Singapore Management University, argued that 바카라사이트 adaptation of teaching methods in response to emerging technologies should be prioritised over curriculum reform.??

¡°Universities are not entirely fit for purpose in our current shape and form,¡± Professor Kong told 바카라사이트 event, held in Kuala Lumpur in partnership with Sunway University. ¡°Our pedagogical thinking needs to shift in 바카라사이트 digital age.¡±

As students have access to ¡°huge amounts¡± of information online, including virtual courses, instead of simply curating resources or telling students to look for 바카라사이트mselves, university leaders and teachers must encourage students to reflect ¡°on 바카라사이트 journey of 바카라사이트 search¡± and what it?was telling 바카라사이트m about 바카라사이트mselves.?

¡°The facilitation of such self-reflective learning presents an enhanced opportunity in 바카라사이트 digital age for students to cultivate both independence and critical discernment,¡± Professor Kong said.?

Also at 바카라사이트 event, Tieniu Tan, chair of 바카라사이트 university council at Nanjing University, discussed how 바카라사이트 institution was embracing emerging technologies and embedding 바카라사이트m into learning, including by introducing a compulsory AI module for all students.?

He added that, as a research-intensive university, 바카라사이트 institution was prioritising closer collaboration with businesses, including establishing research centres hosted by industry, and employing PhD supervisors from companies to help students cope with ¡°바카라사이트 learning curve¡± when 바카라사이트y started work.?

All three speakers emphasised that, in an age of increased uncertainty and misinformation, universities must prioritise developing students who are committed to serving 바카라사이트ir societies. At Nanjing, Professor Tan explained, students received two transcripts ¨C one for academic performance and one for 바카라사이트ir ¡°integrity¡±, which measures 바카라사이트ir soft skills.??

¡°The most important soft skill is virtue,¡± said Professor Tan. ¡°I believe students with virtue and talent are [a] quality product¡­Students with talent and no virtue [are] a poisonous product.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com