Education today for the world of tomorrow

Education today (more than ever) is at stake. Over the last few years, the pressing global concerns regarding educational equity, quality, and purpose, especially amid a pandemic, have been amplified (Datnow et al, 2022: 53).

The 2022 UN Transforming Education Summit made it clear: education systems need to adapt to the shifting skills needed professionally, making learning more student-centred, connected, dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative, allowing creativity to blossom (UN, 2022). The Summit was a call in response to a global crisis in education, one of equity and inclusion, quality and relevance. Therefore, it is essential to develop alternatives for those left behind or out of the conventional educational system, and therefore, it becomes crucial to make this learning recovery an education transformation. 

To be transformational to be effective and sustainable (UNICEF, 2022), we need to conceive education from a holistic approach, which involves shifting the focus from simply imparting knowledge to empowering students to take an active role in their own learning. This perspective recognises that a student’s learning experience is influenced by a variety of factors, such as their personal, social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being, and seeks to address these factors in a comprehensive and integrated way (Datnow et al, 2022: 15).

To implement this change, schools and educators are the main actors that can make this happen in a structural and long-term effect. A central point of this methodology is to adopt a more personalised and differentiated approach to the teaching and learning process, acknowledging that each student has unique needs and strengths, thus defying the standardised learning techniques that claim that one size fits all.

Alongside, this holistic conception of education needs a supportive and inclusive learning environment, one that is welcoming and accessible to all students, regardless of their background or ability level, providing accommodations for students with disabilities, as well as incorporating diverse and multicultural materials.

Furthermore, within this comprehensive framework, schools and educators establish a mentorship model of teaching, in which teachers and tutors serve as advocates and mentors for their students, providing assistance and guidance as students navigate their academic journey. This may involve working with students to develop study skills, time management strategies, and test-taking strategies, in addition to helping them understand course material.

Finally, schools and educators can also intervene to address any external obstacles or challenges that may be impacting a student’s learning, such as family issues, health problems, or financial stress. By addressing these issues, schools and educators create a more enjoyable, empowering and humane learning environment for all students.

Ultimately, transforming education towards a holistic approach of tutoring requires creating awareness about the individuality of each student and creating a personalized and inclusive learning environment that embraces and celebrates students’ diversity. By taking this approach, we can ensure that no student is left behind and that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

In this line, we have launched our project MOOC4TUTORS, with which we want to support tutors and education freelancers in gaining more pedagogical competences, enhance their professional practice and expand their skills and knowledge about pedagogical, innovative, and inclusive approaches in teaching and learning. By implementing this project, we want to offer more possibilities for tutors’ continuous professional development as well as contributing to that path for the education of tomorrow.