Skills, employment and the future of higher ed, an examination of Professors Without Borders’ role and relevance in the upskilling education space

Abstract

The future of mankind is shaped by the investment we put in today to shape and empower the next leaders, employees, entrepreneurs and citizens of the world. However, the education system, especially higher education, continues to draw from policies and practices designed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and is no longer adapted for the complex challenges of the twenty-first century.

This thesis argues that a lack of focus on student abilities that are in high de-mand in the job market is affecting the economic growth of nations, their politi-cal stability, and of course the wellbeing of individuals. A dearth in political will to tackle these challenges head on and invest in teaching practice and educa-tional resources has served to exacerbate existing gaps between students in the global north and south, in rural and urban areas, and in private and public education.

The present study examines whether the UK-registered educational charity Professors Without Borders has successfully identified the necessary skills for students to learn in higher education in order to succeed professionally in their careers. Using a mixed-methodology approach, it assesses the educational programmes delivered by the organisation to conclude whether Professors Without Borders has a role to play in upskilling the educational space.