Bridging the Gap: The Future of Work, Education, and Technology

First and foremost, I would like to extend our gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the MicroUni event today. A special thank you to Rasha Said and Kate Zhu for inviting hundo into your unique ecosystem.

We're excited about the partnerships we're building with TOUCAN project and MicroUni.

The Technological Revolution in Every Industry

Stephen, a speaker earlier in the day, shed light on how technology is disrupting the entertainment industry in unprecedented ways. As we know, this transformation extends beyond just one sector; it is reshaping every job and processes in every sector, of every industry, globally.

As the ancient Chinese proverb goes, "May we live in interesting times." And these times are incredibly interesting, laden with both monumental opportunities, and significant risks, especially for young people.

The Rapid Pace of Change

We're in an era of breakneck innovation, from autonomous vehicles and medical advancements to new forays into space and revolutionary renewable energy solutions. It's thrilling but also intimidating, particularly for young people who are just stepping onto the career ladder.

Consider this:

65% of jobs that will exist in a decade are not even created yet, and an estimated 1 billion new tech roles will be added by 2030.

The Education Dilemma

As inspiring as this pace is, it poses a serious challenge:

How can education keep up?

Illustrating the problem, businesses today on average utilise more than 20 different SaaS tools regularly, meaning that new entrants (young people) into the workforce must adapt to a barrage of new tools and technologies almost instantly.

This highlights a concerning reality—the bridge between education and enterprise is severely damaged.

Young people are exiting the educational system under-equipped for the demands of modern work.

The Role of Work Experience

Work experience can serve as a crucial bridge to the future. Predictably, 78% of hiring managers place a higher value on work experience over academic achievements when evaluating candidates for open roles.

However, there's a paradox:

a whopping 75% of businesses don't offer any formal work experience programme.

Why? Because it's challenging and time-consuming to organise, and the onset of COVID-19 and flexible working arrangements have only exacerbated this problem.

As a result, in 2022 alone:

64% of UK students failed to secure any work experience.

The Cold Start Problem

This creates a "cold start problem"—how can young people gain experience when they can't get experience? Skill-building through hands-on work is crucial for youth, and here's the kicker: technology can serve as the solution to the problem it is creating.

The Hundo Mission

At Hundo, we are hell-bent on rebuilding this broken bridge. Our mission is to end youth unemployment globally, by arming young people everywhere with the skills they need for the future.

We've developed an immersive learning platform that (re)bridges the divide between education and enterprise.

Our platform offers project-based learning courses, work experience programmes guided by employers, and opportunities to connect with mentors in various fields and roles.

We Need You

We're calling for educators and employers everywhere to join us on this journey.

If you or your organisation can offer work experience, we invite you to partner with us. Together, we can construct a pathway that's accessible to everyone, everywhere, leading to a brighter future for all.

Let us come together to ensure that young people everywhere can cross this newly rebuilt bridge to a future filled with opportunities.

Thank you for being part of this transformative mission.