Education provides more than just knowledge. The value of education is in the experience it provides, a new way of looking at life, and building connections between it all.
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” C.S. Lewis
When I moved to the Maldives in 2010, it was the second time in my life that I went to live in a place where I knew almost no one.
A fresh start was exactly what I wanted.
Leaving everything and everyone I had ever known in pursuit of personal financial freedom was the kind of adventure that satisfied both the practical needs I had at the time, to pay off my student loans, with the insatiable desire to travel to beautiful places.
I packed up my beloved purple pea coat in my Mom’s basement in Philadelphia, and I vowed to never be cold again.
And I haven’t been, for 15 years.
Living in Asia, I never grow tired of the perpetual summer, and because there are no seasons the foliage always looks lush and green and the waters crystal clear blue.
What brought me here was an internship, a requirement from my university to put myself out of my comfort zone and gain skills by working with a company for three months. My first internship brought me to Thailand, to the island of Koh Samui. The second, to the Maldives, to the Baa Atoll on an island called Kihavah (young coconut).
This idea to live and work abroad came during my university experience, I had to complete two internships as a requirement for my studies. I believed in my dreams so much that I made the decision to put myself through school, gaining $40,000 in debt. This experience was expensive, but was it worth it?
Absolutely.
Without the encouragement from my teachers and confidence I gained alongside my peers at Temple University I don’t think I would have traveled across the world for an internship. Those first three months turned into one and a half years, I gained knowledge and skills needed to succeed in my life post graduation that I still use today and I also had first hand experience in bringing my ideas to life as I helped to build Anantara Kihavah Villas.
I arrived on the island on the same day as the under water wine cellar aptly named ‘Sea’. As I reflect on the moment we all stopped to watch it sink from the newly built jetty, I am struck by the number of great divides that stood between me and my goals over the last 15 years.
The thing that has always bridged the gap in all aspects of my life has been education, so this year I want to look ahead and share some of the trends I predict that we will see in training and education in 2025.
AI & ChatGPT will be used to enhance emotional intelligence
It is clear that life is different now, what once took days can be completed in moments with the introduction to new technology. At the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management, we use ChatGPT in our courses on conflict resolution so that leaners can practice necessary skills in a simulated, safe environment that provides feedback automatically, if only you know what to ask for. Those that will be successful in providing effective AI solutions in the education industry will need to be able to explain how their solutions will create positive change, quickly, and come with a plan to inspire teams.
Emotional Intelligence & Soft Skills mark the leaders of the future
Those who have developed their emotional intelligence will shine in their respective industries as it is a skill that is needed in moments that can’t always be planned for. To thrive in an uncertain world you must be able to adapt, quickly. Soft skills, or human-focused skills, like collaboration and critical thinking, allow us to use the new technology that is emerging and blend it seamlessly with the work that is currently being done within organisations. The leaders of the future must employ communication strategies to connect with both big picture thinkers and those that are on the ground doing the work to create a united way forward in reaching any goal.
Organisations focus on individuals strengths & encourage collaboration
While human-focused skills are important, they’re not everyone’s strength. Collaboration will be encouraged with a focus on individuals’ abilities and interests. Knowing how to leverage each individual’s unique skill set will come down to how quickly and effectively skills are able to be catalogued within an organisation.
Portfolio careers & skill diversification become the norm
Gone are the days where people just want to do one thing for the rest of their life. With the vast range of knowledge available to us across the internet, it is very easy to build a portfolio career with a range of skills being collected across subject areas and industries that will one day connect in the future to create more innovative ideas. Steve Jobs famously spoke about following his curiosity in his university years and dropping into a calligraphy class that in later years shaped Apple's design ethos.
With the excitement surrounding the start of 2025, as you read about these trends in education and training, what do you predict will happen next year?
How do you want to grow in 2025?
AIHM Executive Education offers dozens of ways to grow your skills and reach your personal and career goals. Seize the moment while you still have the momentum of a fresh start, and choose how you want to grow.
Explore our one-day and two-day courses to kickstart your growth, click here!
Don’t have a full day? We also offer a wide variety of evening workshops—almost 30 of them this January and February alone. Whether you want to improve your Business English, enhance your Time Management Skills, or relax with a side of fluffy in our Puppy Yoga sessions, you’ll find a workshop to light up your new year. See our full schedule of workshops and short courses now!