Graduated over two decades ago and working in a dynamic fast-paced industry, then it is a must for you to be agile in learning, modesty in unlearn and eager to relearn for you to be relevant in spatial system around you today unless you will become obsolete without rust.
In fact, half a century ago, American businessman and futurist Alvin Toffler stated in one of his books that “the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”[1]
From change in techno-spatial factors on education and impact as well as application in the society, the 21st century has become dominated by futuristic thinking and practices. Every aspect of current world is being viewed with future in mind – future workspace, future science and technology tools, future cities, future world and in fact future human beings!
The rate at which new techs and gadgets are dominating our world with impact on what we are learning, what we need to unlearn of what we have learnt and what we need to relearn from what we have learnt.
Academic curricula are changing so fast such that typical university programs of yesteryears like Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine & Surgery are either being phase out or diffuse into entire new spaces giving rise to new programs like Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering just to mention few. So, it is imperative that a Mechanical Engineer of a decade ago may need to upskill with Mechatronics to remain relevant in today’s market.
Of course, it is important to mention that unlearning does not mean “dumbing things down or tossing out knowledge for no reason”[2] but unlearning most often means adding to what you already know or relearn what you have learnt previously in another better way.
Simply, thinking about the old theorem in different way to apply to current and future challenges of humanity.
Academic programs are not only area where the concept of learning, unlearning, and relearning has hold sway in the past few years, it has also struck in corporate world especially in tech industry where new products are becoming like software updates for your laptop.
Multinationals are being challenged daily to do things differently to reduce cost of production, improve profit margin and most importantly be a friend of green earth where there is ongoing devastating effect of greenhouse gas emission impact as witnessed by the flooding of coastal cities, the desertification of fertile areas, the melting of glacial masses and the proliferation of devastating hurricanes[3] with resultant huge loss of lives, resources, and wealth.
A study published in 2021 claimed that “climate crisis would cause an estimated 83 million excess deaths by 2100”[4] with average temperatures expected to rise above 2.1 degree Celsius in the next 50 years based on our current emission trajectory.
Studies like this has influenced the trends corporate entities are moving towards as every organization what to have ‘Greenhouse Gas Friendly’ barge thereby changes the skills required to work in sustainable environment and most companies are either going outrightly for people with required new skillsets or upskilling and reskilling current workforce towards the new direction.
Change is only constant thing in the world and especially in our world where chips are taking over blocks and robots are dominating the human spaces; learning, unlearning, and relearning is not a fantasy but indeed the future, embrace it now!
[1] Learn, unlearn, relearn – RSA (thersa.org)
[2] Importance of Learning, Unlearning and Relearning for the Gen – Z – AIESEC | Blog
[4] Climate crisis could kill 83 million people by 2100, study finds | The Independent
Journaling – Bembem’s Diary