Palestine Think Tank

WRITTEN BY: Khaled A. Islaih

Palestinian new generation has outstanding job opportunities in the new century. The accelerated use of social technologies in businesses and organizations around the world combined with the intensified workforce shortages in post-industrial economies is creating a new world of work. In fact, Palestinian youth have the opportunity to become global workers by building their attitudes, talents and skills to suit the emerging opportunities in a new world of work. Palestinian youth have the opportunity to play an essential role in integrating the Arab World in the global economy. For the development community in Palestine, this implies a new content and approaches in our education system to prepare our graduates for a new world of work.

Like many other countries, the backbone of our education system is structured on values and prerequisites of the industrial age that has developed over the years of the last century. Careers were developed by models that demanded workers to acquire the specific education and training, secure a job and work hard, go up in a hierarchy, and retire at the retirement age. This old approach has created a self-limiting work beliefs such attachment to physical office, loyalty to the company, attention to managers, job security is the main priority, salaries and conventional benefits are the main incentives, and success is determined by positions and titles.

In contrast, success in the global economy of 21st century needs a new set of values such as attachment to virtual space, leadership and influence, contribution to work, family and community, environment protection and social responsibility, personal freedom, lifelong learning and skill improvement. Increased proliferation of communication technology is also changing the way people work. Fore example, most workers are now working in virtual / real teams to complete specific contracts and projects. The recognition of virtual work is increasing in both developed and developing countries. Use of communication technology is required for most jobs in the 21st century. Job security is not a key issue for skilled workers. Self-employment is on rise in countries such as Canada and USA. The emerging trends in the global workplace need new workers who are lifelong learners and who can respond and adapt to constant change.

In the new world of work, proper career skills are keys for success because it allows individuals to reap the fruits of globalization. Career skills refer to the personal capacity of individuals to make informed choices to insure continued success in the new world of work. It also enables individuals to assess and communicate their interests and values, evaluate learning opportunities, interpret information and set professional goals. The mastery of these skills enables workers to become more resilient to transform complex challenges into learning opportunities. According to new career development models, workers in the 21st are expected to have high levels of professional flexibility to allow them to move between professions, sectors, industries and countries. As a result, workers are always seeking new opportunities to maximize their career potential and enhance their contributions to their families, communities and societies at large.

In my opinion, fundamental changes in our education system are urgently needed to help Palestinian youth chart their career pathways in today’s world of work. First of all, Palestinian education is missing information literacy education in schools and universities. Palestinian graduates need Information literacy to enhance their engagement in the global economy/society. According to Wikipedia the internet encyclopedia, information literacy refers to the personal capacity to recognize when the information is needed and the ability to locate, evaluate and use it effectively in creating new growth opportunities. Secondly, appropriate technology instruction allows graduates to become competent in managing information and communicating and presenting ideas more effectively. More precisely, technology extends our human capacities such as the powers of perception, analysis, and concentration. It also provides skilled users with the ability to access, manipulate, transform, use and present information.

As English is becoming the international language of internet and business, more and more people are finding it hard to live with one language. However, most of Palestinian university graduates face language barriers when they try to use their skills in an international context, due to the old approaches of English language instruction applied in Palestine Nevertheless, there are language centers in the country that uses new approaches, but it is limited and the services are available for certain class of people due to the high cost. Enhanced language instruction training is needed in the Palestinian schools and universities to merge the Palestinian economy in the larger regional and global economies. Competitive language skills in Arabic and English will enable the workforce of Palestinian youth to play a major role in the emerging knowledge revolution in the Arab World.

In short, the engagement of Palestinian youth in the new world of work requires a combination of positive attitudes, resilient values and upgraded skills. This means investment in an easily accessible educational system that to provide career guidance and technology orientation to match the emerging trends in today’s socio-economic environment. More importantly, Palestinian children and youth need a new education system to help them see the positive changes in the world around them and to draw their future pathways in a new and borderless workplace.

Khaled A. Islaih is trained as an economist and career professional specialised in global career development. He serves as a manager for a language training program at Muslim Community Services in Ontario (Canada). In Palestine, Khaled worked as economic researcher for many Palestinian and international organizations. He can be reached at khaled.islaih@muslimcommunity.org