This article is made possible thanks to collaboration between The European Sting and the World Economic Forum.
Author: Fair Pisuttisarn, Global Shaper, Bangkok Hub. Mindterra Co-Founder, Irvan A. Sutiono, Bangkok Hub Retiring Curator, Zipmex Venture Manager
- In job markets around the world, employers are struggling to find jobs, while workers are struggling to find suitable jobs.
- Public-private cooperation, especially in the edtech sector, is essential to addressing this issue.
- To this end, the Global Shapers Bangkok hub has successfully implemented a program that blends mentorship and artificial intelligence to help prospective graduates strategize for their future careers. rice field.
A similar story is unfolding in the world of work, from North America to East Asia. Businesses are struggling to hire workers, and workers are having trouble finding jobs.
In Thailand, for example, a recent survey showed that 40% of Thai university graduates are unemployed, while Thai companies are struggling to fill vacancies.
Thailand’s figures may be partially explained by the post-coronavirus economic slowdown that is slowly spreading across Southeast Asia, but growing problems in a country notorious for tourism and manufacturing. In other words, it highlights the mismatch between demand and supply of labor in the economy. It’s a transition to digital technology.
The Thai government set up and initiated a funding scheme in 2020 for university graduates to offer paid volunteer jobs to unemployed graduates, but solving the problem across the country would require a more radical shift. is necessary.
It requires a paradigm shift in our approach to education, one that focuses less on grades and more on skills and development.
Models to replicate: shape the future
To address this issue, Global Shapers Bangkok has partnered with EdVISORY, a Bangkok-based EdTech startup, to shape the future. This 12-week mentorship program helps soon-to-be college students gain insight into a variety of career paths, using artificial intelligence (AI)-driven personal development tools alongside mentoring.
The program has given students more clarity about their future careers. Mentors also reported that the program helped them keep up to date with the latest developments in their fields.
1. Mentorship
Students were selected into groups of three or four, where they met with mentors and were given two small group instructional sessions. They were also invited to a Career Roundtable where they were introduced to additional guest mentors from a variety of fields including entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and social impact. In doing so, students broaden their perspectives on the job market, connect with potential employers, and debunk commonly held notions and myths about job seeking.
2. Self-awareness
Using digital tools such as EdVISORY’s WE Space tool, students conducted a thorough self-assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, and areas of growth, all of which they used to align their career trajectories. Based on the survey results, We Space recommended personalized learning opportunities (e-learning and training) and employment opportunities based on student profiles.
These assessments complemented the mentorship sessions and were crucial in the students’ self-discovery journey as they helped students articulate and plan how they would carve out their career path after graduation. .
3. Job search skills
To support students in the job application process, senior HR professionals hosted workshops on resumes and resume writing basics. This workshop taught students what HR professionals typically look for during the interview process and role-played common scenarios.
In addition, using EdVISORY’s WE Assess tool, an AI-based virtual job interview platform, students practiced job interviews and worked to improve them with their mentors.
All participants and mentors said the program met their expectations and would recommend it to others. Post-program evaluations showed that combining AI-driven assessment with human-centered mentorship was crucial in shaping the mentee’s ideal career roadmap. Leaders reported that the program allowed them to “keep in touch” with the new and latest developments in their fields.
discover
How is the World Economic Forum building artificial intelligence guardrails?
In response to the uncertainty surrounding generative AI and the need for a robust AI governance framework to ensure responsible and beneficial outcomes for all, the Forum’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Launched the Governance Alliance.
The alliance brings together industry leaders, governments, academic institutions and civil society organizations to drive the responsible global design and release of transparent and inclusive AI systems.
Mentorship and AI
Mentorship is a powerful tool. It enables deep and meaningful human connections that technology may not be able to replicate. However, combining AI-driven and human-centric solutions can be more powerful than alone. AI can enhance mentorship schemes, giving candidates and mentors more information about themselves and their mentees.
For Thailand, the lessons of this program are important. Currently in Thailand, achievements and grades are emphasized, but job hunting skills such as résumé writing, motivation writing, and even interview etiquette are less emphasized. Through programs like Shaping the Future, which focus on practical skills to enter the job market, people learn what it takes to rise in the competitive job market. They also learn about themselves in the process.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution” and “the future of work” are no longer conceptual concepts of the future. It is here and now, and we need more cooperation between the public sector, businesses and EdTech innovators to close the unemployment gap. This must be achieved by bridging the gap between education and industry.
As the economy moves inexorably towards digital technology, higher education is no longer enough to provide students with textbook knowledge and skills alone. With the right combination of guidance, motivation and capacity building, and investment in education, future generations of skilled workers will be able to grow and prosper by pursuing careers that are meaningful to them and the economy. can make it, right.
