Global youth employment: inspiring the world’s first generation of technology natives
Today’s young people are more comfortable with technology than any other generation in history – an attribute that should be an employer’s dream come true. But as this pioneering generation passes through higher education systems in mature markets the world over to find work, many are unprepared for the types of role that await them.
Ahead of presenting at the CNBC Blackstone Global Youth Employment Agenda conference in London from 2 – 3 December 2010, Intel’s Director for EMEA Public Sector, EMEA, Tristan Wilkinson joined Geoff Cutmore on CNBC Europe’s Squawk Box show to examine how we can best equip young people used to technology and social networking to apply their abilities in the job market.
Using examples such as Intel’s UK internship scheme and the company’s work with the BLOODHOUND project, the British attempt to engage schoolchildren in education and science by building a vehicle capable of travelling at 1,000 miles per hour, Tristan outlined need to focus education on inspiring young people to engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while also ensuring employers are more able to benefit from the skills of a new breed of tech-savvy employees.
Answering the 21st century skills challenge in both emerging and mature markets is central to Intel’s work in education. The company’s work focuses on helping educators foster the educational building blocks for innovation and knowledge-based economies (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), while finding ways to instil 21st century skills – collaboration, problem solving, communication and creativity – into curricula in engaging ways through technology.
Just some of Intel’s programmes in education include increasing access with its Classmate ruggedised notebook, engaging teachers and learners through its Intel Teach Program and inspiring tomorrow’s innovators through the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair . As importantly, Intel recognises that technology can inspire and empower a new generation of entrepreneurs and has a long-standing relationship with University College Berkeley through the international Intel+UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge (see a summary of this year’s EMEA entries here).
While this week’s Youth Employment Agenda conference may not pinpoint the definitive answers to the challenges of readying today’s young people – or indeed, today’s employers – to best use 21st century skills, engaging the breadth of companies, government officials and employment organisations in discussion can only lead to more ideas and potential solutions.