Futures of Education
Futures of Education is a global initiative led by UNESCO (United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) which aims to rethink and shape the future of education. The project was launched in 2019 to mobilize collective intelligence, generate debate and reimagine how education can contribute to the common good of humanity. Context. Due to accelerated climate change the fragility of Earth is becoming more apparent. Inequalities, social fragmentation, and political extremism are bringing many societies to a point of crisis. Advances in Digital Communication, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology have potential but raise ethical and governance concerns, especially  as innovation and technological change have an uneven record of contributing to human development. The Futures of Education aims to re-imagine how knowledge and learning can shape the future of humanity and the planet, given the challenges which they are currently facing. Rethinking the role of education. Learning and knowledge are tools that can help inspire possible different futures for humanity and of the planet. The challenges of today may require innovative solutions beyond established sectoral approaches and disciplinary boundaries to re-purpose education for the future. Culture and the environment. The stability of the planet could be assisted  through the mobilization of education, and the diversification of knowledge, customs and culture. Research suggests that embedding a deep attachment to landscapes and tangible heritage instils a sense of care for the world, and that the study, preservation and appreciation of diverse languages, knowledge and customs enrich human collective consciousness through an understanding of the relations between past, present and future societies. Education plays a role by including sustainability studies as a means of promoting planetary survival. Earth science and environment studies enable learners and communities to become more cognizant of the world they inhabit and leave behind them. A  ‘community of knowledge’ is one in which the responsibility of being a ‘knowledge keeper’ is for everyone. This paradigm shifts the focus from the perspective of ‘stakeholder’ and changes the way of contributing to knowledge, aiming to achieve sustainable development. The future of education may be to support the cognitive practices of the groups and communities which recreate the values of their environment through the practices of cultural appreciation and symbolic recognition of places. Responsible citizenship. Education plays a role in the socialising process to build equitable and sustainable societies. School curricula that include philosophy, human rights, visual learning, socio -emotional competencies, media literacy and the humanities are said to be key to inclusivity and social justice. Global citizenship education aims to foster a future generation that is conscious of the need for planetary sustainability and focused on solving global challenges, including food shortage and planetary health. Learning systems. Rethinking learning systems can foster inclusive and social cohesion. For example, cross-cutting digital and physical spaces facilitate the sharing of knowledge. Such collaborative learning spaces are a means to explore mathematics and art education while fostering collective imagination. Rethinking and adopting new internationalized learning systems is intended to cultivate a  culture of responsible citizenship that legitimizes different ways of knowing, particularly those that lie outside of traditional Western paradigms. Science, technology and innovation. With artificial intelligence, technology is increasingly involved in education. New digital competencies and media literacies call for a gender transformative approach (promoting gender equality, sharing control of resources and decision-making, and women's empowerment in digitization and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Unlocking digital barriers through open educational resources enables global online learning and facilitate Education For All. Media and communication students would require ethics courses to establish their critical thinking skills and training. This is  seen as being crucial in a ‘fake news’ era when trust in media professionals is being eroded, especially when news and documentary production is impacted by the capacity of artificial intelligence to manufacture authentic-looking ‘fake’ material. For instance, researchers at the University of Washington have created algorithms based on hours of video footage and audio recordings to create realistic lip-synced videos of Barack Obama. UNESCO's initiative. UNESCO's Futures of Education initiative is intended to mobilize the many ways of being and knowing to leverage humanity's collective intelligence. It relies on a consultative process that involves  young people, educators, civil society, governments, business and other stakeholders. The mobilization and contribution of the network of UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs is a key part of the process of engagement. The work is being guided by a high-level International Commission of leaders from diverse fields and different regions of the world. The commission plans to publish a report in November 2021 designed to show how education and learning can enable individuals to become what they want to become.