Building capabilities for a complex future: Habits of mind, mindset and youth leadership

Abstract

Unless one has been hiding under a rock all this while, we would all have heard about the complexities, uncertainties and volatilities of our collective future. In fact, the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) /BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear and incomprehensible) reality is no longer something we have the luxury of preparing for - it is here! In this current landscape, what challenges are we and our students already facing on a daily basis? What more will all of us continue to have to face up to as we step into the next decade?

This talk is not about sounding alarm bells – it is an urgent call for action, for us as educators to intentionally reflect about this reality, and to actively invest in our students’ development beyond the academic – to support their growth as citizens and as leaders who will play key roles in community building in an increasingly complex, brittle, and nonlinear world. This is a call to all educators that we contribute to building capabilities in our youths, to inculcate relevant habits of mind, and to infuse a mindset that can shape a community that is agile, adaptable, and resilient. I believe that though the world may be complex and filled with uncertainties, if equipped with a growth mindset that is characterized by a spirit of persistent and continuous learning, our students will not only be successful “tomorrow’s learners”, they can also be capable changemakers in our community today. I am optimistic that such a possibility can be realized if all of us, as educators and institutions, focus on and invest in building capabilities in our student body.