Upskilling, reskilling, and cross-skilling are terms that are becoming increasingly prevalent in today's fast-paced and ever-evolving job market, and that means we in education need to think about how we are responding.

As we recently discussed in our geNEOuschats with Nannette Ripmeester, there is a growing skills gap between higher education and the labor market, and the way we support students to develop new skills, both within and beyond their time with us, is of critical importance.

What's the difference?

These terms all refer to the process of acquiring new skills to improve one's career prospects, but there are some key differences between them.

Upskilling is basically the process of learning new skills to advance in your current field of work, and moving up the same ladder through additional training and certificates etc. Reskilling is changing to a new ladder entirely! In a world which is changing so very quickly, technology and climate change are two factors forcing huge changes which may render some jobs completely obsolete. Ask a coal miner, ski lift operator or content writer just how secure their jobs feel.

Cross-skilling, meanwhile, refers to the process of learning new skills that complement your existing skill-set. It is not as linear as upskilling, and involves the broadening of skills to enrich what you already do. An example could be learning a new language that helps you better connect with clients in new markets while not fundamentally altering your existing role. It's a bigger, more stable and more secure ladder to stand on, because the more you cross skill, the easier it is to change roles and fit into other projects in a horizontally structured organization.

A shift in labor dynamics

The ladder analogy is getting stretched too far here, but so are our societies, economies, and ecosystems. As the challenges we face in this world become more complex, companies and industries are looking for people with a diverse range of skills and knowledge that can adapt to change and help them stay competitive.

For example, many manufacturing companies are now looking for employees who have experience in both manufacturing and software development, as automation and robotics are becoming more prevalent in the industry.

And in the finance industry, more and more employers are looking for candidates who have a background in both finance and technology, as digitalization is disrupting traditional business models.

Add to this the in-demand competences like adaptive thinking, complex problem-solving, cross-cultural communication and anticipatory thinking, which should all be developed in tandem with hard skills, and it casts a new light on how we look at that course brochure. New generations are looking for learning experiences that help them meet these new challenges, and institutions that are behind the curve on this will not long survive.

Transversal, adaptive and holistic education responses

The education sector is also adapting to these trends, and schools and universities are working to prepare students for the rapidly changing job market.

Some institutions are offering programs that focus on upskilling and reskilling, such as coding bootcamps at the University of Edinburgh, while others are incorporating cross-skilling into their curriculum.

One example of a school doing this well is Georgia Tech's program in "Computational Media" which provides students with a cross-disciplinary background in computer science, design, and interactive technology.

Perhaps a step further is the transdisciplinary approach taken by the London School of Economics. The degree program they offer which is centered on solving problems that require input from many different disciplines is an innovative way to build complex problem-solving competences and a lifelong cross-skills learning. They even offer a transdisciplinary PhD, which flies in the face of the generalists versus specialists debate.

Additionally, many universities are now partnering with online learning platforms and massive open online courses (MOOCs) which provide access to a wide range of courses, allowing students to continue learning and upskilling throughout their careers. Looking for a real way to offer value to your alumni network? Here it is.

The longer traditional education focuses on knowledge over skills, essays, and exams over reflective and practical experiences, the more the skills gap will grow. The longer we funnel students into narrow and finite degree pathways without supporting them to cross skill as they develop new interests, the more we will see retention rates drop. The more we silo our academic offer, the less prepared our graduates are for the complex realities of the modern world.

At geNEOus (formerly NEO Academy) we are lifelong learning enthusiasts, from Ashley becoming a full stack developer in 2022, to Puri slaying every learning opportunity in sight, both upskilling and cross skilling are in our DNA. Education Marketing is changing rapidly, and we can help empower your teams to meet new challenges with fresh skills and new confidence. Get in touch to talk to us about our professional training and development offer.