The Latin American education on its way up to transformation.

After Covid-19 hit the Latin American region on the 26th of February of 2020, multiple economic sectors shut down. According to recent studies by S&P, the virus produced a significant negative impact on supply chains and disrupted many industries around the world, including Airlines, Oil and Gas Drilling. 

For Latin America and the Caribbean region, the damage that occurred in education was vast. The World Bank reports that this region is facing an unprecedented education crisis that requires immediate action. Following the massive school closures, about “120 million school-age children had already lost or were at risk of losing a full academic year of presential education, with serious educational impacts” (World Bank, 2021)

A situation that increased socioeconomic disparities: access to inclusive, equitable, and quality learning.

Although business and production models are in constant evolution, the general secretary of the Ibero-American Business Council claims that youth is the transformation protagonist of our society in this new reality. And must upfront the situation considering issues of vital interest to the region.

There are about 160 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 in Latin America.

But how to train a new generation of professionals?

According to Hugo Malágon, president of the Forum of company presidents and CEU universities, companies need students with social intelligence; innovative thinking, adaptability, diversity, interculturality, big data management, creative thinking, mediatic education, know-how management, and teamwork skills.

The upcoming challenges are not only technical (connectivity, infrastructure, virtuality) but mainly adaptational. Companies are valuing teamwork capabilities in times of crisis. That’s why, Casado from the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau says that “Strengthening the youth to forge a collaborative and responsible business ecosystem, is a priority to companies if they want to survive and be successful in the current context”.

On the other hand,  AIESEC in Colombia (a global, non-profit organization made up of young people), bets on prioritizing leadership skills in education and defining solid growth models. 

With the pandemic, universities had to quickly adapt to new educational environments, creating the need to succeed in adjusting new world and to the forthcoming trends.

Therefore, AISEC’s president alleges that “virtuality and long-term remote work can’t disappear. Right now it needs to evolve to facilitate inclusion and access to higher education. This is the moment to finally transform teaching tools and adapt to new technologies”. Valderrama.

Everything shows that generating practical experiences in unexcepted scenarios will make the youth grow as professionals and be prepared for possible unusual scenarios in which they will perform. It’s not only supporting technical competencies but forming them as complete professionals of the world. If you’d like to read more about Latin American challenges and Colombia’s position in matters of education, make sure to keep reading.

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