Education must evolve to meet needs of the future

AMBITIOUS high school students from Singapore to Seattle are eager to launch the next Uber, WeChat or disruptive social entrepreneurship project - even before graduation day. Amid their interest in joining the startup bandwagon before university, what are the ethical issues facing educators, and what can be done to address this phenomenon in the age of on-demand service, automation and 24/7 mobile communication?

At present, several institutions around the world are launching entrepreneurship bootcamps to nurture core business skills in future generations. The bootcamps cover the whole process of starting a new venture, from idea generation to pitching to angel investors and venture capitalists. Programmes such as these are just one way that we educators can add value to students' schooling experience and ensure they are prepared for the business world. We are already seeing disruptive technologies changing the global economy at breakneck speed, with automation and robotics making once stable jobs obsolete.

To quote Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, "our industry does not respect tradition - it only respects innovation". Although Mr Nadella was referring to the technology industry, the reality is that workers in all fields, from manufacturing and media to food and financial services, must innovate in order to survive and thrive.