What Does the Term Future of Leadership Mean, and How Does Student Industry Experience and Graduate Employability Impact it
The future of leadership refers to the evolving nature of leadership in the coming years, taking into account the changing global landscape, technological advancements, and shifting societal expectations. In today’s rapidly evolving world, the concept of leadership has taken on new dimensions and challenges. As industries, job markets, and working environments undergo significant transformations, it is crucial for educators and universities to give aspiring graduates the necessary tools and practices to develop skills and competencies to succeed in their chosen fields.
In this blog post, we will explore the future of leadership, with a specific focus on industry experience and its link to graduate employability and building future leaders.
Understanding the Future of Leading
The traditional notion of leadership, characterised by hierarchical structures and top-down decision-making, is undergoing a paradigm shift. The future of leading is rooted in adaptability, collaboration, virtual capabilities, ownership and innovation. Effective leaders of tomorrow must possess a diverse skill set that goes beyond technical expertise. They should be able to navigate uncertainty, inspire teams, drive change, be as impactful in person as virtually and embrace a global mindset.
Leadership in the future will require individuals to be comfortable with ambiguity and complexity. As technological advancements continue to reshape industries, leaders must be able to leverage emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automation, to drive organisational growth and productivity. Moreover, the ability to lead diverse teams in virtual, hybrid, and remote scenarios in a culturally sensitive manner will become increasingly important as globalisation blurs boundaries and brings together people from different backgrounds and perspectives.
The Role of Industry Experience
While academic qualifications are undoubtedly important, industry experience plays a vital role in enhancing graduate employability.
While tertiary education plays a pivotal role in carving career paths, many employers note a need for work-ready skills among new graduates. In fact, a remarkable 83% of employers struggle to find suitable candidates due to a shortage of necessary skills, according to research done by NACE 2022 in the US.
Employers increasingly seek candidates who can hit the ground running and contribute immediately to their organisations. Practical experience gained through internships, co-op programs, or part-time jobs provides graduates a competitive edge.Industry experience allows individuals to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts, enabling them to develop practical skills and gain insights into industry trends, challenges, and best practices. It helps graduates understand the nuances of their chosen fields, build professional networks, and establish credibility among potential employers.Moreover, industry experience fosters the development of essential leadership qualities. It offers opportunities for graduates to cultivate essential professional skills like problem-solving, adaptability, virtual teamwork, communication, and resilience – all crucial attributes for effective leadership in the future.
Linking Industry Experience to Graduate Employability
As the future of work becomes increasingly dynamic, graduate employability relies on integrating industry experience into academic programs. Employers often find that recent graduates have the technical knowledge required for their jobs but must gain essential professional skills required to succeed in the role. Employers expect new hires to have excellent communication skills, problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and the ability to work in remote and in-person teams. Unfortunately, these skills are not always taught in traditional academic settings.
It is essential for educators and universities to understand the importance of professional skills and incorporate them into their curricula. Universities and educational institutions must adapt curricula to provide students with experiential learning opportunities that align with industry needs. Internship programs, industry projects, and collaboration with businesses should be an integral part of the educational journey. These initiatives enable students to gain practical skills, build professional networks, and develop a deep understanding of industry dynamics. By bridging the gap between academia and the workplace through industry experience, students can graduate with a strong foundation of real-world experience that enhances their employability prospects. Furthermore, fostering partnerships between educational institutions and industries creates a win-win situation. Employers gain access to a pool of well-prepared talent to meet industry demands. At the same time, students receive the necessary exposure and experience to thrive in their careers.
The Path to Success
In conclusion, the future of leadership is evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Aspiring graduates, educators and universities must recognise the importance of industry experience in enhancing employability skills. By actively seeking out opportunities for practical learning, universities and educators can help their learners develop the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to develop future leaders. Moreover, educational institutions and industries must collaborate to provide students with experiential learning opportunities, ultimately shaping the leaders of tomorrow who will drive innovation and success in their respective fields.
Remember, the future belongs to those willing to embrace change, adapt, and continuously learn. Are you ready to equip your learners with tools that take them to success?
How can Practera help?
Practera is a project learning technology enabled organisation that can connect learners with real-world learning opportunities, internships, work placements, and industry experience programs.
Enrolling in one of these programs will allow learners to gain in-demand skills employers are recruiting for and provide them with actual talking points for their CV/next job applications, participating & learning as a student consultant to solve various real-world business challenges from driving technological innovation, creating new funding opportunities, finding new market expansion pathways to encouraging sustainability.
If you’re a student, check out our government-backed student programs to sign up for free and kick-start your career.
If you’re an educator looking to boost your student’s chances of success or increase student engagement, you can try our industry experience program for free, contact the Practera team, or download our white paper to learn more about project-based learning programs.
