On
September 19th,
2024, EasyTransfer
Co-Founder and President, Tony Gao, was invited to moderate the Forum for World Education (FWE)
online webinar "What Future For Education?". The FWE is a nonprofit organization aiming to
transform education to meet the skills and knowledge requirements of current
and future generations.
As a distinguished member of the Forum, Tony serves as FWE's Vice President and sits on the board of the Young Leaders program. The webinar featured a panel of esteemed experts, including Alex Wayne, Associate of Strategic Investment, Bright Scholar Oxford University Alumni, Dani Bicknell, COO/Founder of Dab Collab, FWE Young Leader, Wahed Ahmadzai, Founder of nHUB, Secretary General of Alumni Talent Alliance, ITEC International Affairs Director, and Hugh McCormick, Principal of CATS Cambridge, who shared their insights on critical topics shaping the future of education.
Tony led a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving landscape of education. The panellists delved into a wide range of topics, including the economic growth, social progress, and sustainability of the education sector. Tony and Alex discussed the increasing significance of soft skills in education. Alex emphasized the need for students to cultivate interests and leadership abilities beyond academic achievement, as well as the value of adaptability across different cultures and environments.
Dani explored the challenges faced by students and professionals in balancing work and self-care, highlighting the importance of rest and innovation. She shared her experiences and lessons learned from collaborating with technology companies and digital health organizations. Dani also advocated for a shift away from traditional capitalist models in technology development, proposing a more humanistic approach.
Wahed emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in education towards an entrepreneurial mindset, focusing on problem-solving, societal understanding, and creating streamlined processes. He argued for addressing the skills and awareness gaps in the global education system, especially in developing countries, by providing more accessible and affordable tools and information. Wahed suggested that education should prioritize problem-solving, creativity, and self-discovery, and that teachers should undergo retraining to better understand the aspirations of young people.
In the final segment, Hugh, a former graduate and lecturer at Cambridge and Oxford Universities, shared his perspective on the future of education. He emphasized the importance of equipping students with future-relevant skills, rather than merely catering to their immediate needs. Hugh also discussed the purpose of education, which is to prepare individuals for societal life, and how this purpose evolves according to the society in which one lives. Finally, Hugh explored the potential for artificial intelligence to become a dominant part of people’s lives, predicting that within five years, major software companies will create personalized avatars for tasks and personal information. Tony expressed gratitude for Hugh's insights and encouraged the audience to contemplate the potential societal shifts of the next decade.
"It was an honour to moderate such a valuable discussion," said Tony Gao. "The insights shared by our panellists provided valuable perspectives on the future of education and the challenges and opportunities facing students today."
EasyTransfer is committed to supporting international
students and fostering innovation in education. By participating in events like
this webinar with the FWE,
we aim to contribute to the ongoing conversation about the future of education
and its impact on students worldwide.
To view the full recording of the webinar, please click: https://youtu.be/SDwmik0ZyQc
