In order to understand the on- and forthcoming changes in the field of education Business Finland, together with the Finnish National Board of Education, the Consulate General of Finland in Hong Kong and Agent of Change Ltd., organised the Future Watch workshop “The Future of Smart Education in Asia” on the 2nd of February 2018 in Hong Kong. The workshop brought together a group of over 20 invited specialists consisting of both academic and professional experts on education, smart education and artificial intelligence (AI). The future scenarios presented in these slides are based on the thoughts uttered by these experts during the workshop regarding the future of education. The scenarios are based on two of the workshops’ main topics: educational technology (edutech) and soft skills.

1. OTSIKKO
ALAOTSIKKO, KUUKAUSI VUOSI
EDUCATION IN ASIA 2025: FUTURE SCENARIOS

2. INTRODUCTION
• In order to understand the on- and forthcoming changes in
the field of education Business Finland, together with the
Finnish National Board of Education, the Consulate General
of Finland in Hong Kong and Agent of Change Ltd.,
organised the future watch workshop “The Future of Smart
Education in Asia” on the 2nd of February 2018 in Hong
Kong.
• The workshop brought together a group of over 20 invited
specialists consisting of both academic and professional
experts on education, smart education and artificial
intelligence (AI).
• The future scenarios presented in these slides are based on
the thoughts uttered by these experts during the workshop
regarding the future of education.
• The scenarios are based on two of the workshops’ main
topics: educational technology (edutech) and soft skills.
• The presentation concludes with discussing future business
opportunities that the future of education might entail.
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios2

3. FUTURE SCENARIO –
EDUTECH
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios3

4. FUTURE SCENARIO - EDUTECH
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios4
The new technologies
and devices will
enable flipped
classrooms and
blended learning as
well as the
opportunity to learn
in different places
and at different
times.
Technology is the main driver of change in education today and
edutech was one of the workshops’ hot topics. New edutech will
change the role and responsibilities of teachers and change the
ways students learn. The following scenario is based on the
workshop participants’ thoughts regarding edutech and its effects
on teaching.
One of the major changes that edutech will entail in the near future
is the transition from differentiated to personalised learning. As it is
known, there are different types of learners and various learning
styles i.e. one size does not fit all when it comes to learning.
Personalised learning is based on this notion and big data will
enable teachers to know more about their students and their
challenges.
Simultaneously, personalised learning will help the students gain
insight on what type of learners they are and enable self-paced
learning. Well-performing students will get to perform more
advanced tasks which will keep them challenged and motivated.
Simultaneously, students that experience difficulties with a
particular subject will have the chance to focus on what they
struggle with until they reach the required level.

5. FUTURE SCENARIO - EDUTECH
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios5
The new technologies and devices will enable flipped classrooms
and blended learning as well as the opportunity to learn in different
places and at different times. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and
mobile learning (mlearning) will allow students to learn through
devices that are adapted to the their capabilities and personalised
learning goals regardless of time and place. Flipped classrooms go
well together with the previously mentioned notion of a need for
more project-based learning as it allows students to e.g. complete
different collaboration projects in “the field”.
Teaching will be done in new innovative ways enabled by
technology. Game-based learning (GBL), educational robotics and
digital libraries are some examples of the new tools that will be
utilised in order to enhance the learning experience.
Technology will also change the way our classrooms look. As the
integration between physical and digital deepens, the classrooms
will transform from what we are used to. The removal of the
whiteboard is ongoing and the future classrooms might have e.g.
interactive walls and instead of desks the students could have
interactive devices through which they can submit their work on a
Cloud account.
Game-based learning
(GBL), educational
robotics and digital
libraries are some
examples of the new
tools that will be
utilised in order to
enhance the learning
experience.

6. FUTURE SCENARIO - EDUTECH
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios6
The time that it takes for students as well as teachers to master the
new technologies is hard to assess. The adoption of new will be
easier in countries with small populations whereas countries such
as China will face some challenges when implementing edutech due
to a large population. However, when the technologies are
implemented, they will enable teachers to save time as e.g. grading
can be done by using different AI applications.
It is clear that new edutech will change the role of teachers.
Teachers might not be needed in the same extent in the future if a
great deal of their current work can be replaced by AI. Eventually,
we might have fewer teachers that function more as tutors and
mentors for the students. Teachers will also focus on teaching the
students skills that technology cannot, such as critical thinking and
interpersonal skills or so called soft skills. This is discussed further in
the following scenario.
…when the
technologies are
implemented, they
will enable teachers
to save time as e.g.
grading can be done
by using different AI
applications.

7. FUTURE SCENARIO – SOFT
SKILLS
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios7

8. FUTURE SCENARIO – SOFT SKILLS
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios8
Soft skills consist of
the competences and
qualities that
differentiate humans
from AI and that will
be of importance in
an increasingly
automated future.
Besides edutech, the workshops participants also stressed the need
to emphasise soft skills and skills that exclusively require human
knowledge and face-to-face interaction in curricula. There is, of
course, a constant need to update curricula but the current rapid
development of technological innovations accentuate the need.
Students should be taught skills that will enable them to succeed in
an AI economy.
Soft skills consist of the competences and qualities that differentiate
humans from AI and that will be of importance in an increasingly
automated future. Such skills are e.g. problem solving, adaptability,
critical thinking, creativity, leadership, interpersonal skills and
emotional intelligence (EQ).
One of the issues ahead will be how to emphasise the teaching of
soft skills in the best possible way. One way of doing it could be to
increase the amount of problem-based teaching were students
solve problems by working in groups. Adaptability, on the other
hand, can be taught by putting emphasis on project-based learning
and working. This will enable students to get familiar with applying
their skills in different situations in shorter terms, which will be
needed in a world with more freelance work, organisational change

9. FUTURE SCENARIO – SOFT SKILLS
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios9
The ability to acquire
new skills throughout
life and possibly even
to retrain mid-career
will be of key
importance.
and a demand for workers to acquire new skills throughout their
lifetime. The ability to acquire new skills throughout life and possibly
even to retrain mid-career will be of key importance. One of the
most important things that students need to learn in order to
remain employable in the future is the ability to learn by
themselves.
Further, the rapid technological development might lead to a need
to teach students new things such as e.g. the medical care of
robots. The technological advancement will also make the teaching
of manual mathematics less relevant as this is something that
computers will carry out in the near future. Instead, the human
interpretation of data will gain prominence and the curricula should
be altered accordingly.
Ethics and morals will also require more attention in education as
the future demands humans to make deliberate decisions regarding
for instance the programming of artificially intelligent robots.

10. FUTURE BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios10

11. FUTURE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Education in Asia 2025: Future Scenarios11
The commodification and gamification of education and the
increased use and demand for new technologies in education
creates opportunities for edutech companies. Devices that support
personalised learning will be in demand as well as apps and games
that enable mobile learning (mlearning).
AI will be able to make the educational experience more efficient
and engaging, both for teachers and students. Simultaneously, more
expertise and solutions will be needed in this area, such as IoT and
cloud-based services or AI-based tutoring solutions as well as
customised online textbooks and other study materials.
Further, the increased use of online platforms and different
applications in education raises concerns regarding online security
and privacy. Teachers and parents will need some sort of
supervisory tools in order to ensure the students safety online.
Companies providing different cybersecurity -solutions might be
able to find opportunities related to this.
Devices that support
personalised learning
will be in demand as
well as apps and
games that enable
mobile learning
(mlearning).

12. Business Finland
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Post address
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Sari Arho Havrén
+852 6895 5221
sari.arhohavren@businessfinland.fi