Authors: Dr. RITU WADHWA1, Dr. ABDUL QADIR2 and Dr. DEEPAK SINGH3
Abstract
Purpose: The 21st century is marked by a changing landscape at workplace and future of jobs is predicted to be fairly different from contemporary days (Kim, et.al., 2017). Due to uncertain times, (pandemic and post pandemic days), there has been a conundrum that the institutions, societies and governments face with a high levels of youth unemployment on one hand, and a shortage of professionals with industry-required critical skills, on other (Blustein et.al., 2020). A significant shift in India's workforce is now being addressed by the gig economy, which is visibly growing rapidly, and the need of financial education, empowered by AI skills among youths is the call of the hour. This study is dedicated to the analysis of the Industry 5.0 skill requirements, UN Sustainable Development Goals, the growing importance of financial education and AI skills among youths to shape the teaching-learning ecosystem of future. Design: A thematic analysis of qualitative data has been done to bring forth the elements of learning-ecosystem for learners at secondary level, identify stakeholders and leverage the rising pool of gig-professionals for designing an integrated framework using semantics databases for Industry 5.0. The UNSDG was probed into to act as a fulcrum to design the model. An in-depth study of rising gig economy trends in India and the need of upskilling with the financial and AI competencies among learners for productive outcome was taken into this research. Findings: The research unlocks the resource entities that exists in the value chain of teaching-learning process at the secondary education level. It is required to build in the skill set for future employability in India. The research proposes a conceptual model that links the major entities of teaching-learning ecosystem on one side and available resources on other side with the pivotal role of financial and AI gig professionals, to address the challenges of employability for Industry 5.0. Practical Implications: The study seeks to offer a solution to challenges faced by learners towards attaining employable skills for Industry 5.0. It thereby addresses the skill development mechanism as well as productive utilization of a rising pool of Gig professionals armed with financial and AI competencies, especially during the current turbulent days of global economy. Social Implications: The proposed model is expected to serve the identified stakeholders facilitating development of a sustainable learning ecosystem to employ the available resources towards achieving developmental goals outlined by UN to meet India’s aspiration of being a global guru. Originality: This study differentiates as being among a very few research in India highlighting the challenges faced by secondary school learners to imbibe employable skills that are industry oriented. This study contributes to development of an integrated model of Teaching Learning framework that weaves in challenges faced by secondary level institutions with the robust support system of other stakeholders.
Keywords: Education Ecosystem, Fifth Industrial Revolution, Employability Skills, Finance Gig Professionals, Uncertain Times, India.
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