"Advancing towards a learning system that fosters new skills such as self-generation or reinventing oneself, critical and analytical thinking, collaborative work, leadership and decisiveness, an entrepreneurial mentality, multiculturalism and ethics, requires a change in the mentality of all the actors involved Since it is an urgent and complex transformation, and considering that history shows us that it does not seem reasonable to expect a deep and timely change led by the State, even more so with the pending resolution of the early education system, they should be the educational institutions themselves, both university and technical, together with companies, unions and civil society, who "take the bull by the horns",assuming the leadership of supporting students and workers to close the gaps with which they receive them."
Improving education is one of the most debated issues at the political, social and business level in Chile, especially with regard to preschool, basic and secondary education, where people experience crucial stages of their development. In the last five decades there have been notable advances in coverage, years of schooling, investment and quality, among others. However, the recent low results of SIMCE, which according to the former Minister Mariana Aylwin, during the last decade have been "trapped", skirting the limit of the minimum recommended by the OECD, remind us that this challenge is still far from being resolved, constituting one of the biggest obstacles to the country's growth, social development and well-being of people throughout their lives.
While the Executive and the politicians agree on how to resolve this "disaster", "earthquake" or any other euphemism that they want to use, depending on whether it is the government or the opposition in power who says so, people and employers cannot wait. In a rapidly changing and evolving world, where elements such as technology and new social paradigms are radically transforming our way of working and relating, "life-long learning" has become more crucial than ever. Even more so in our country, where many people enter higher education or the workforce with significant technical, emotional, and leadership gaps. A situation that, far from being resolved, only threatens to continue to increase, especially affecting the most vulnerable who, even having intellectual potential and will, They have not had the opportunity to access a good education. For the majority of Chileans, as Rector Carlos Peña has pointed out, the system has not resolved that "the cradle does not mark its destiny."
We currently have significant shortages of trained personnel in multiple industries, which has meant that in sectors as relevant as health, for example, it has not been possible to set up enough intermediate critical beds for the high demand of patients affected by the syncytial virus. If not resolved, this situation will only become more complex. For example, an Accenture study warns that by 2030 our country could waste close to USD 13 billion in growth if the population is not prepared in the skills of the future market.
Moving towards a learning system that fosters new skills such as self-generation or reinventing oneself, critical and analytical thinking, collaborative work, leadership and decisiveness, an entrepreneurial mindset, multiculturalism and ethics, requires a change in everyone's mentality. the actors involved. As it is an urgent and complex transformation, and considering that history shows us that it does not seem reasonable to expect a deep and timely change led by the State, even more so with the pending resolution of the early education system, it should be the educational institutions themselves. , both university and technical, together with companies, unions and civil society, who "take the bull by the horns",
In fact, some companies have already taken charge, promoting initiatives that include training programs according to area or level of development, financing for programs according to needs and interests, work time dedicated to learning and links with academia. In the longer term, a more disruptive, collaborative and strategic approach is necessary to identify, define and execute plans and policies that create and develop these new capabilities, facilitating the flow of knowledge and creating ecosystems of continuous learning between collaborators and other talents that surround. For example, the CPC and its unions control Inacap and the Universidad Católica al Duoc UC, the largest technical education institutions in Chile,
Strengthening education is a country issue where companies, unions, educational institutions and civil society can and should generate a more significant contribution to people's lives, while at the same time strengthening their sustainability. Their leadership in this matter, necessary for their own growth or even subsistence, can likewise become their main pillar of legitimacy and social contribution. The greatest manifestation of the new role of the company that is talked about so much, but that rarely materializes in something so concrete, relevant and consistent with its work.
And you, how are you tackling the challenge of empowering talent in your organization? What disruption are you willing to make in your company, institution or union so that these changes, so necessary for the future of the country, finally happen? How can you create an educational ecosystem with others to empower your action?
* The authors, Gonzalo Larraguibel, partner at Virtus Partners and Juan José de la Torre, CEO of Raven.