With rapid advances in technology and the economy in the late 20^th century and early 21^st century, educators, business leaders and government agencies have identified skills, abilities and learning dispositions that would help students attain success in 21^st century society.

There are twelve 21^st Century Skills and they are grouped into three categories:

1. Learning Skills

The focus is on mental processes required in order to adapt to the current work environment.

1. Critical thinking
2. Creativity
3. Collaboration
4. Communication

2. Literacy Skills

Teaches students how to discern facts, publishing outlets, and the technology behind them. These also help them distinguish trustworthy sources and factual information from the misinformation in the Internet.

5. Information literacy
6. Media literacy
7. Technology literacy

3. Life Skills

These skills focus on intangible elements of a student’s everyday life. These intangibles emphasize both personal and professional qualities.

8. Flexibility
9. Leadership
10. Initiative
11. Productivity
12. Social skills

References:

https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/what-are-21st-century-skills

https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/21st-century-skills/

21st Century Skills in MUIC Curriculum

(Interview with Dr. Ruchi Agarwal, Assistant Dean for Educational Affairs)

Why is it advantageous for university students to learn 21^st Century Skills?

Given that we live in a globalized world that requires an individual to not only have basic skills as was the case in the past, the new requirements of the job market are more towards applied skills. These essential skills include critical thinking, teamwork, creativity among others. For our students to survive in this changing world, there is a need for them to acquire these skills early on in their stay in university. 

How are 21^st Century Skills taught to MUIC students?

MUIC has made continuous efforts to instill the 21^st Century Skills among students from their freshman year itself. Initially the general education (GE) curriculum required students to take courses in different majors, however, understanding the changing demand of the globalizing world, MUIC initiated a revision of the entire GE curriculum with the combined efforts from members of all programs to design a new GE curriculum based on the 21^st Century Skills. The result is a new revised general education curriculum which has the five baskets system based on the 21^st Century Skills. These baskets include: Leadership, Critical Thinking, Global Citizenship, Digital Literacy, & Life Appreciation. Each of these baskets include a number of courses that students can choose which teach students the specific skills based on the 21^st Century Skills categorization. 

For a list of these general education courses, please see below: