{"title":"Upskilling and Reskilling for a VUCA World","authors":"Philip Mong’are Achoki","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp34-52","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp34-52","url":null,"abstract":"Organizations are operating in a VUCA world, punctuated by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Recent technological developments have given rise to new jobs, new demands, new products, new processes, new work arrangements, and new methods of service delivery thus significantly disrupting workplaces and creating a need for new workplace skills. There is a growing anticipation of “new normals” characterized by skills revolutions, among other factors. Such a context poses serious challenges to human resource management in regard to developing and maintaining a competitive advantage amidst volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. The aim of this theoretical study was to assess the need for upskilling and reskilling and propose an organizational sense-response framework for upskilling and reskilling in a VUCA business world. The findings show that for any organization to ensure sustainability in the VUCA world, it must focus on its most valuable asset— its people. Organizations need to strategically develop employees’ skills based on organizational objectives. In such a dynamic world, people require competencies in different skills including but not limited to technological skills, self-management skills, social and cross-cultural skills, cognitive skills, entrepreneurial skills, and mastery of 21st century inter-disciplinary themes to exhibit good performance. The future of work is therefore likely to focus on continuous upskilling and reskilling people to be able to thrive amidst constant disruptions. The proposed framework shows that organizations need sensing and response capabilities for them to thrive amidst rapid change, especially in the external environment. The sensing capability ensures that organizations continually maintain awareness of external threats or opportunities. The response capability, on the other hand, ensures that organizations are able to determine how best they can adapt to changes, after assessing the relevance of those changes to their organizations’ current situations and long-term strategic objectives, as well as the possible benefits and threats of those changes.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"AES-15 5","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135167006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Decision to Study Abroad at Hungarian University","authors":"Daria Borodina, Adrian Estrela Pereira","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp114-130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp114-130","url":null,"abstract":"Globalisation is driving the internationalisation of higher education, promoting open access to universities, enhancing educational programs with an international focus, and stronger presence in the international higher education market. Thus, globalisation stimulates the internationalisation of universities. For universities to attract international students successfully, it is necessary to understand general issues regarding the decision-making process. The study aims to analyse the benefits of studying abroad at a Hungarian university among international students. To fulfil the aim of this study, a questionnaire was administered to 100 international students, aged 18 to 38. The study results showed that international students had been looking for benefits while studying abroad, such as personal development, cultural experience, career prospects, and the possibility of travelling. Some benefits were also related to social and economic factors such as access to unique courses and knowledge, positive country image, safety situation, and affordable living costs in Hungary. The decision to study at a Hungarian university was made according to such benefits, including a desired program of study, comfortable facilities, flexible schedule, admission criteria, opportunity to improve English language skills, good reputation of the university, European degree, supportive environment, related costs, and future career prospects. At the same time, different age groups of international students considered the importance of benefits differently. Also, different groups of international students based on perceived social family status paid attention to different benefits. The findings of this study can be used for the promotion of Hungarian universities internationally to attract more international students with benefits that they look for when studying abroad.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"7 4","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135167014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Employability Skills","authors":"Zsuzsanna Soproni","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp53-65","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp53-65","url":null,"abstract":"Technology has been responsible for the digitisation and automation of routine jobs. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) this trend is likely to continue into more technical or sophisticated work. This gives rise to the question; how can graduates and employees ensure they have a job in the future? A precondition for understanding lifelong learning is to clarify what kind of learning may take place throughout an employee’s career. This paper explores the concepts of employability skills, soft skills, and 21st century skills in an effort to identify where particularly human skills will still be essential. After reviewing research in the area of employability skills, mainly from a labour market perspective, the paper goes on to contextualise the training and development of employability skills in higher education. Following that, reasons for developing and introducing employability skills modules in higher education are discussed and based on the literature, recommendations are made for higher education institutions, tutors, students, and employees.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"33 10","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135168412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Working from Home vs. In-office post-COVID-19","authors":"Norbert Griszbacher","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp20-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp20-25","url":null,"abstract":"The recent COVID-19 pandemic has swiftly and drastically transformed our daily lives, including our perception of working-from-home (WFH) practices. Even in a post-pandemic world, employees have shown an ardent desire to retain the benefits of the novel pandemic-induced remote work experience, which challenges managers to reintegrate them into the conventional office setting. This paper aims to assess the advantages and disadvantages of home and office work environments from the viewpoints of employees and employers to identify the optimal future scenario that maximises the benefits to all parties involved. Although our understanding of the optimal balance between remote and office work is limited, the future of work will involve a hybrid approach, combining remote and in-office work. The transition to such an arrangement demands time, creativity, trust, and various other factors from the parties. It also calls for serious mindset shifts and up/reskilling efforts. The review ends with a consideration of future scenarios and industry implications of adopting hybrid work.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"44 1-2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135168390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Relationship Between Time Spent Abroad and Intercultural Sensitivity","authors":"Jamil Toptsi, Ahmad Hajeer","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp85-96","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp85-96","url":null,"abstract":"In today’s globalised business landscape, characterised by a proliferation of multinational corporations employing culturally diverse workforces, intercultural sensitivity is important in facilitating collaboration. Regarding higher education, it has been found that intercultural sensitivity can be increased through time spent abroad, although the results have been shown to vary depending on the specific context. As the impact of time spent abroad on intercultural sensitivity has yet to be examined in the Hungarian context, this study aimed to investigate whether there were significant differences in various components of intercultural sensitivity between Hungarian business students who had spent varying periods abroad. A total of 270 Hungarian business students from a leading Hungarian business university, aged 18-26, completed the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS). The focus was on intercultural sensitivity levels between students who had spent less than one month abroad and those who had spent more than one month abroad. The findings indicated that students who spent more time abroad showed improved confidence in intercultural interactions; however, significant differences for other components of the ISS were not observed. Although the results are specific to the Hungarian or Central European context, the findings provide insight for institutions seeking to design effective exchange programs that promote intercultural competence among students, preparing them for success in the global business environment.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"21 6","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135167015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Virtual Interview Preparation for Generation Z Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Students","authors":"Ponn P. Mahayosnand, S. M. Sabra","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp7-15","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp7-15","url":null,"abstract":"Social distancing and remote work were mandated worldwide during the COVID-19 lockdown. While virtual interviews were conducted prior to lockdown due to the growing global workforce, they became normalized during the pandemic for both work and school. Hiring agents may believe that having grown up with technology and the internet Generation Z (Gen Z) may be well-prepared for virtual interviews. However, the challenge they face is not technology-related. Gen Z individuals, particularly those in STEM fields, often lack well-developed practical and pragmatic life skills, such as effective communication. A remote independent research scholar and her student compiled this field report. First, the general characteristics of Gen Z STEM students are presented, followed by a virtual interview preparation guide with tips, recommendations and examples. Given the ever-changing global remote workforce, future empirical studies are recommended on the virtual hiring process of Gen Z STEM students which includes and expands upon virtual interviews.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"23 2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135167003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammed Estaiteyeh, Nicole Campbell, Isha DeCoito, Mariam Takkouch
{"title":"Setting Students up for Success","authors":"Mohammed Estaiteyeh, Nicole Campbell, Isha DeCoito, Mariam Takkouch","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp66-84","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp66-84","url":null,"abstract":"Acknowledging the importance of skill development in graduate programs, Western University in Canada developed an innovative master’s program in interdisciplinary medical sciences. The program aims to promote students’ academic, professional, and personal skills by engaging them in experiential and interdisciplinary learning that adopts an explicit and reflective approach in focusing on seven core skills: problem-solving, communication, leadership, critical reflection, working in diverse teams, project management, and decision making. This paper draws on the experiences and reflections of the inaugural cohort of students enrolled in the program to address the following research questions: 1) How does the MSc IMS program impact students’ skill development? and 2) How did students practise the seven core interdisciplinary skills outlined in the program? The study utilizes a mixed methods approach by collecting quantitative and qualitative data using pre- and post-online surveys administered to the students. The findings highlight the program's positive impact in terms of students’ reflection on their level of competence in the seven core skills, especially in complex problem-solving, oral and written communication skills, and critical reflection. Results also show that students specifically appreciated the contribution of experiential learning components of the program in advancing their skills. The paper emphasizes the importance of addressing students’ skill development in higher education in an explicit and intentional approach and engaging students in reflective practise on their skill development. Implications for the design and review of graduate programs are also discussed.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"28 8","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135167013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"“Mind the Leadership Gap!”","authors":"Liam Murphy, Helen Turnbull","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp26-33","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp26-33","url":null,"abstract":"The coronavirus pandemic has acted as a catalyst for organisational change, disrupting historic ways of working, and spearheading organisations towards the next evolution of their working environments. In the aftermath of the largest concurrent work from home experiment in the world, organisations are coming to grips with the new policies and practices they need to implement to remain competitive. But there is one crucial stakeholder who continues to be left out in academic research, leaders. New questions now arise as to how we should remodel leadership in an increasingly remote world. What skills do leaders need to develop and how, in order to maintain employee wellbeing and manage the intergenerational divide? This paper presents a short synthesis of the challenges faced by leaders today specifically around remote team management but also in the context of a multigenerational workforce, alongside a summary of the research gaps we face in post-COVID literature. This paper concludes with the production of a future research agenda for scholars to close this gap, and to help organisations in building their leadership capability in the ‘new normal’.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135168376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Your Old Road Is Rapidly Aging. Please Get Out of the New One if You Can’t Lend Your Hand, for the Times They Are A-Changing","authors":"William E. Donald","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp131-134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp131-134","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"8 2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135168898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bring the Warriors Back Home","authors":"Nimmi P. Mohandas","doi":"10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp16-19","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.52398/gjsd.2023.v3.i2.pp16-19","url":null,"abstract":"The article discusses the changing nature of careers today, and how organisations ought best to respond to this scenario. The advantages of participating in the gig economy and the ways it impacts both employees and organisations are discussed against a backdrop of signalling theory. Organisational practices addressing work-life balance issues, inclusion and diversity, job autonomy, flexibility, attractive compensation packages, and the fostering of an employability culture are all highlighted as sending out positive signals. Conversely, negative signals, such as in extreme cases appearing to have a hire-to-fire policy, should be avoided. The article concludes by highlighting the need for further research into the factors influencing talented individuals' decisions to return to full-time work, as well as the strategies organisations can use to attract them.","PeriodicalId":483213,"journal":{"name":"GILE journal of skills development","volume":"55 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135166839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}