Understanding global trends like climate change, inequality and globalisation, and their significant social implications, is crucial to keeping education systems relevant and responsive. This knowledge helps policymakers and professionals to consider how education policies and practices should evolve to adapt to changes in the broader environment.
Trends shaping education and skills
In a rapidly evolving world, understanding global social, economic and technological changes is key to building education systems that are agile and responsive to the needs of society.
![](/https/www.oecd.org/adobe/dynamicmedia/deliver/dm-aid--f11b7b59-e0b7-4833-9f85-5cac30e52960/trends-shaping-2305369667.jpg?preferwebp=true&quality=80)
Key messages
Developing responsive and resilient education systems requires anticipating future changes and their potential effects. However, long-term planning is becoming more difficult due to rising complexity and uncertainty. Considering alternative versions of the future recognises that trends are dynamic and interconnected, and often influenced by changes in culture that are seemingly marginal or unlikely at present. Discussing multiple scenarios can reveal desirable futures as well as potential shocks and surprises, both of which can be used in the present to stress-test current strategies and plan for contingencies.
orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam blandit quis arcu sed posuere. Vivamus eget ligula purus. Integer sagittis at lacus efficitur lobortis. Suspendisse ac ligula nec libero fermentum ornare eu eget lectus. Vivamus bibendum sodales volutpat. Mauris hendrerit consectetur elit, at tristique libero eleifend in. Morbi dictum libero ac sapien placerat, non cursus leo convallis. Cras in ligula id velit tempus tristique et id odio.
Context
The world is increasingly complex and uncertain
Much of our thinking about the future is linear and based on extending current existing trends. But trends slow, accelerate, bend and break. Unforeseen events can disrupt even long-standing trends. What futures can we imagine for education? Which lessons can we learn from these futures to inform our actions today?
The four OECD Scenarios for the Future of Schooling
![Figure: The four OECD Scenarios for the Future of Schooling](/https/www.oecd.org/adobe/dynamicmedia/deliver/dm-aid--90d58d30-7e7d-45e3-bda5-fc4eb74b4f3a/figure-four-oecd-scenarios-for-the-future-of-schooling-2020.jpg?preferwebp=true&quality=80)
Related publications
Programmes and projects
-
Preparing for the future means taking a careful look at how the world is changing. Reflecting on alternative futures helps anticipate and strategically plan for potential shocks and surprises.Learn more
-
Data and digital technologies are among the most powerful drivers of innovation in education, offering a broad range of opportunities for system and school management, as well as for teaching and learning. But they also create new policy issues as countries face challenges to reap the benefits of digitalisation in education while minimising its risks.Learn more
-
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics are becoming increasingly sophisticated at replicating human skills. The evolution of these technologies could fundamentally transform work over coming decades and deeply affect education’s current role in providing skills and preparing learners for future work.Learn more
-
The Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) provides and promotes international comparative research, innovation and key indicators, explores forward-looking and innovative approaches to education and learning, and facilitates bridges between educational research, innovation and policy development.Learn more
-
The Education Policy Outlook is an analytical observatory that monitors the evolution of policy priorities and policy developments from early childhood education to adult education, mainly among OECD education systems, to provide a comparative understanding of how policies are evolving, and how they can be best implemented or improved over time.Learn more
-
The OECD’s programme on education and skills policy support policymakers in their efforts to achieve high-quality lifelong learning, which in turn contributes to personal development, sustainable economic growth, and social cohesion.Learn more
-
OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 aims to build a common understanding of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values students need in the 21st century.Learn more
-
Add a short description – maximum 200 characters (4 lines). This should outline the OECD’s mandate and the main issues/challenges with respect to the project. Writing style and tone should be clear, to the point, and jargon-free.Learn more
-
The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) programme established by the PISA Governing Board in 2018 explores how different areas of the assessment programme (e.g. test design, scoring methodologies) can be improved.Learn more
-
Meeting the challenges of the 21st Century means that schools must be empowered to play a more central and active role in leading improvements in education. To support this, Schools+ will bring together major education networks to put schools at the centre of education design.Learn more