Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1110343
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 APRIL 2019 FILM CULTURE Soft skills in the 21st century WITH an unemployment rate of 7.8% within the EU (January 2019) and a large number of people urgently seek- ing jobs, why is it that quite a number of employers state they are finding it difficult to fill their unfilled posts? Why is it that some graduate unemployed people find it difficult to find gainful employment? In 2015, 79.9% of ter- tiary graduates who had left education and training within the previous three years managed to find employment. There is an apparent gap between the products of our education systems and the needs of our labour markets. This gap in skills poses a threat to industries and economies all over the world. Not only does such a gap pose a threat to the economy but it also jeopardises ac- tive citizenship and personal growth among citizens. Whilst most of the problems might lie in the shortage of people skilled in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) industries, there is a general shortage trend in soft skills such as communica- tion, critical thinking and management skills. STEAM is an educational approach to learning in which Science, Technol- ogy, Engineering, Arts and Mathemat- ics are used to guide people's inquiry, creativity, problem solving, dialogue, and critical thinking. The end results are people who take thoughtful risks, informed decisions, engage in hands- on and experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collabo- ration, and work through the creative process. These all contribute to the development and enhancement of the 21st century skills; often also referred to as Soft or Transferrable Skills. Education systems are once again turning to innovation to ensure a pros- perous future. Yet innovation remains tightly coupled with Science, Tech- nology, Engineering and Mathematics – the STEM subjects. It is envisaged that Art and Design will transform our economy in the 21st century, just as science and technology did in the last century. We need to add Arts to the equation to transform STEM into STEAM. By doing so we would be add- ing creativity to the equation; the abil- ity to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make con- nections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. This approach to learning is undoubt- edly not easy, but the benefits to peo- ple and the entire society can be huge. People who engage in STEAM activi- ties make more real-life connections so that learning institutions become a space that use STEAM subjects to en- courage learning, growth, social-emo- tional connections, and the foundation for the creatives and innovators of to- morrow. In such spaces, people natu- rally aspire to continuously explore, think, imagine, experiment and grow. A great example to enhance soft skills in a STEAM approach to learn- ing is Storytelling. Whatever we do, whenever we interact with people and whichever topic we discuss, we are tell- ing a story. Stories are not just the fairy tales we find in books, but rather the day-to-day interactions we have with other people, the way a hawker tries to sell a product, the way a television pre- senter tries to communicate a message or the way a teacher tries to discuss a concept. Stories and evidence-based science have at their hearts the same basic goal: seeking truth and/or finding meaning. We use different tools, dif- ferent means and different languages to get there. Science and stories are two different yet complementary ways of our understanding. On one side, stories use a metaphorical reality to help us connect to and care about our world. Our "whys?" and "so whats?" are answered through metaphors and symbols touching on our emotions. On the other hand, our "how" questions are answered through science and the logical aspect of our existence. When we are equipped with science, stories, and all related skills and com- petences, we are in a powerful position to stimulate other people's curiosity and ignite a passion for knowledge that may be life changing. Understanding how to deliver scientific or technical content in a vibrant and personal way is a valuable resource and transferrable skill. Through storytelling, children, youth and adults develop a greater sense of care for the content of the story, engaging with it on a deeper and more meaningful level. Individuals might not have the re- quired soft skills they need in today's ever-changing world. Nowadays, peo- ple require a complex skill-set to keep abreast the ever-evolving complex technology and to be creative, fulfilled and successful in an ever-changing world. The World Economic Forum in its report 'New Vision for Education; unlocking the potential of Education' (2015) highlighted sixteen 21st-century skills. These skills consist of six Foun- dational Literacies, four Competencies and six Character Qualities. The more time goes by, the more is higher order thinking becoming a necessity in eve- ryday life. The tasks assigned to em- ployees for instance require a higher level of thinking and communication to approach complex challenges. Like- wise, several soft skills are required to approach the citizens' immediate and long-term changing environment. A STEAM-approach to learning fo- cused on 21st century skills and the right storytelling skill-set might be one of the important ingredients needed for societies to equip individuals with high employability indexes, who are active citizens and likewise are person- ally fulfilled. The Malta Council for Science and Technology, the University of Malta and the Malta College of Arts, Sci- ence and Technology have embarked on a joint national campaign to pro- mote STEM Engagement in relation to employability, personal growth and active citizenship. This campaign will also encourage more students to take up subjects which will prepare them for STEM related careers, with the full support of the Minister for Education and Employment Evarist Bartolo. The campaign will start off with a National STEM Engagement Conference on Fri- day 3rd May 2019, which is to be held at ESPLORA Interactive Science Cen- tre, Kalkara. A STEAM-approach to learning focused on 21st century skills and the right storytelling skill-set might be one of the important ingredients needed for societies to equip individuals with high employability indexes