The pace of technological change is increasing exponentially with implications for all of us. Robotic developments are already changing the way work is organised and carried out and will invariably lead to an accelerated disappearance of factory jobs. Driving jobs will eventually go the way of the horse and cart, together with repetitive occupations such as accountancy. Already robotic machines can perform surgery with an error rate well below that of leading surgeons and the only reason pilots will fly planes in 20 years time is the flying public’s resistance to get on a plane controlled by a machine (News: they already are…).
These revolutionary changes have the potential of leading to an increase of leisure and free time if humanity devises a way of allocating wealth based on a system other than restitution for work. Failure to do so will create increasing polarised and unhappy societies with vast inequalities between very few wealthy individuals and the poor masses. Our students will grow up and be responsible for shaping these changes and will themselves face tremendous challenges in a labour market completely different from the one we know. Jobs will become increasingly casualised and the most successful people will be the ones able to create self employment opportunities.
Fortunately the core values of our college; self reliance, independence, ability to think for oneself, cooperation and creativity will help our pupils to cope and indeed thrive under these radical conditions. Most students that traditional colleges see as least academically minded, the creative spirits, the lateral thinkers and the dreamers are the students most likely to succeed.
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