With new technology comes all new ways of working and, often, better living. Take a closer look at this trend, and you’ll see that these same changes are also killing a lot of jobs.
Worse still, a constant stream of new technology can make getting a new job with old skills a lot more difficult -- like more difficult than ever before. In fact, nearly half of the world’s jobs —around 2 billion—are at risk of disappearing due to automation and technological advancement in the coming decades.
Imagine this: 4 out of 5 children starting school today will eventually hold jobs that don’t exist yet. Sounds kind of absurd, but it’s actually the real World Bank estimates for the future global workforce. A shift of that size will have an impact on communities everywhere, to say the least, but the world’s poorest are likely to be the most affected. That’s not progress.
What skills will be required for this new economy? In addition to soft skills such as adaptability, communication, and critical thinking, quality learning opportunities for technical training must be deployed on a scale like never before.
The MIT Solve community is asking you to create solutions for young people (under 24) from adverse economic backgrounds that will equip them with 21st century skills. You can create a way to prepare the workforce of the future, and leave a lasting, meaningful impact on the world.
The Solve community can:
- Suggest innovative learning technologies to help increase skills development for disadvantaged youth around the world
- Present new educational models and concepts to improve quality of learning for young people in the 21st century
- Propose tools and strategies to teach skills that will drive entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and adaptability
- Identify innovative solutions to ensure equal access and inclusion of all genders and people with disabilities to quality education and skills development
Challenge Chairs
Founder and President, Emerson Collective
Prize Eligibility
- Atlassian Foundation International Seeks to Further "10 in 10" Mission with US$1 Million in Partnership Grants
Atlassian Foundation International aims to help prepare 10 million disadvantaged youth for the workforce of the future, within 10 years, or "10 in 10." To further this mission, the foundation is pledging up to US$1 million in grant funding through MIT Solve's Youth, Skills, and the Workforce of the Future Challenge to non-government organizations, non-profits, social enterprises, academics, entrepreneurs, and for-profit organizations to uncover the world's most scalable education models that prepare disadvantaged youth for the workforce of the future. Atlassian Foundation International is also looking to partner with other organizations who might wish to provide matched funding. An initial amount of up to US$ 500,000 will be granted across several Solvers selected by the Atlassian Foundation, after which these Solvers will be eligible to apply for additional grant funding from the remaining pool in 2017/2018.
- Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Indo-Pacific Development Prize
The changing future of the workforce will have a huge effect on the lives of young people in developing countries. Up to US$1 million in grant funding will be awarded to innovative Solvers selected by DFAT who will have impact in developing countries in the Indo-Pacific (listed here under Pacific, South-East and East Asia, and South and West Asia). DFAT encourages in particular applications that address the needs of women and girls, and people with a disability. Qualifying Solvers selected during the 2017 Fall Pitch Event will receive an initial grant of up to US$50,000, after which they can apply for additional funding from the remaining grant pool.
- The Arts and Culture Mentorship Prize Curated by Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist
The foundation for creativity is safety and trust, on which are built curiosity, imagination, and collaboration, and finally passion for a subject or skill. The arts and culture mentorship prize will be awarded to Solvers (up to 3 across all challenges) who present innovative learning technologies, new educational models, tools or strategies that connect disadvantaged youth’s passion for the arts and culture to 21st century skills.
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