'Research-based learning could redefine students' role in human development'

For too long, education has been measured by grades, test scores and the race for admissions.

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These markers may signal academic ability, but they fail to capture what truly matters: a student's capacity to navigate complexity, imagine solutions and act with purpose. In a world reshaped by technology, climate change, geopolitical shifts and cultural interdependence, our old measures of success are no longer enough.

Employers, universities and global institutions are not asking for perfect report cards. They are asking for young people who can bring clarity to uncertainty, work across boundaries and translate ideas into action. The future belongs to those who can combine knowledge with the ability to question, connect and lead. This is why “soft skills” is a phrase that understates their importance; they are now the hardest and most essential skills to acquire. The ability to analyse from multiple perspectives, to communicate across differences, to lead with empathy, to remain resilient in the face of failure, these are not optional extras. They are the skills that determine whether knowledge is inert or transformative. They are also the skills that separate tomorrow’s followers from tomorrow’ leaders. Critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, leadership and empathy are the hardest skills to teach and the most essential to our survival as a global community. They are what allow students not only to find answers but, and this is very important, to ask better questions.