GEMS Education Global Education Survey

Transcription

1 GEMS Education Global Education Survey Summary of key findings 14 th September 2011 Research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) International Survey Unit on behalf of GEMS Education

2 Contents Background, objectives and approach Approach Summary of key findings Detailed findings Sample profile 1

3 Background, objectives and approach 2

4 Background and objectives GEMS Education commissioned PwC to undertake a global survey of senior business executives to investigate a range of education issues in four territories - the UK, US, Brazil and China. The key issues that you wanted to explore are as follows: To what extent is the Government/State adequately preparing students to meet businesses' needs at present? Which areas need to be improved? In which ways will tomorrow s workforce differ from today s workforce, in the opinion of business executives? To what extent does the Government/state offer opportunities for businesses to input into the design/reform of the education system? What is the best strategy for the business sector to ensure it has the most suitable future employees? 3

5 Approach We conducted an e-survey of 404 senior business executives in the four target territories, and obtained approximately 100 responses from each area. The respondents included a range of senior executives including CEOs, CFO s, managing directors, senior partners, partners and directors. The sample in each country included a mix of agriculture, manufacturing and services firms. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large firms (over 1000 employees) we also represented in the sample. The questionnaire was designed in close collaboration with Gems Education and contained five key questions, as outlined in the background and objectives section. The fieldwork took place during the period 23 rd -30 th August The key findings emerging from the research are described in the following section. The results should be treated as indicative, rather that fully representative, based on the relatively small sample sizes in each country. 4

6 Summary of key findings 5

7 Summary of key findings How well are students being prepared to meet business needs? Overall, less than half of senior executives in our sample believe that the state education system in their country is preparing students well to meet their workforce needs at present. Of these, just 17 described the education system as preparing students very well. Amongst the four countries included in our sample, China responded most positively, with 74 stating that students are being prepared well, however just 26 of Brazilian senior execs held this view. Indeed, 45 of respondents from Brazil stated that the level of preparation was poor. Amongst UK respondents, exactly half felt that students were being prepared well, while in the US the figure was 43. Which types of skills need to be improved? We asked respondents about the types of skills that need to be improved basic skills (numeracy, literacy, IT); what they know (subject knowledge relevant to your business); what they are able to do (technical skills relevant to your business); and how they work (employability skills such as collaboration and leadership). The results indicate that all of these skills require significant improvement in all four countries. In the UK the key priority for improvement is basic skills. In the US and China, how they work was the main priority and in Brazil, what they are able to do was the main focus for improvement. 6

8 Key findings (2) How will tomorrow s workforce differ from today s workforce? There was strong agreement from the senior execs in all four countries that tomorrow s workforce will be very different from today s. There was majority agreement that the workforce of the future will require: increased technological capability; increased multi-lingual capability; deeper technical skills; better cross cultural networking skills; a higher aptitude for innovation; and more autonomous work habits. In all four countries, increased technological capability was selected as the skill area that will be most important in the future. A higher aptitude for innovation was second most important in the US, while respondents based in the UK, China and Brazil selected deeper technical skills and their next most important skill area in the future. To what extent are there opportunities for businesses to input into education reforms? Views were mixed on this issue both within and across the four countries. Opportunities to influence education reform are greatest in China, with 86 of senior execs stating that businesses can input to a great or to some extent. In contrast, in the US, opportunities to collaborate on education reform are more limited, with 67 stating that they can input just a little,or no extent. 7

9 Key findings (3) What strategies should the business sector adopt to ensure it can access the most suitable employees? A number of strategies were suggested to respondents on how the business sector can help ensure it has access to the most suitable employees in the future. There were: Work and lobby with government directly; Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education; Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly; and Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe. In Brazil, China and the UK, there was majority agreement that each of these strategies should be adopted by the business community. In the US, there was majority support for all, except widening the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe. In relation to which strategy would be most effective, business execs in all four countries agreed that working with private providers to commission customised individual employee education would have the greatest impact. Other strategies suggested by respondents included: Businesses working more closely with schools, colleges and universities; Businesses getting more involved at the early stages of the education system (primary/elementary school); and Businesses providing more/better training to new recruits. 8

10 Detailed findings 9

11 How well is the government/state education system in your country preparing students to meet your business workforce needs right now? Very well 17 Quite well 31 Neither well nor poorly 24 Quite poorly 22 Very poorly

12 How well is the government/state education system in your country preparing students to meet your business workforce needs right now? Very well Quite well Neither well nor poorly Quite poorly Very poorly UK USA China Brazil 11

13 In your opinion which of the following areas need to be improved within your government or state education system? Basic skills 60 What they know 52 What they are able to do 59 How they work

14 In your opinion which of the following areas need to be improved within your government or state education system? Basic skills What they know What they are able to do How they work UK USA China Brazil 13

15 Which skill area do you consider to be the most important to your business? Basic skills 28 What they know 16 What they are able to do 24 How they work

16 Which skill area do you consider to be the most important to your business? Basic skills What they know What they are able to do How they work UK USA China Brazil 15

17 In which ways will tomorrow s workforce differ from today s workforce? To what extent do you agree or disagree that the workforce of the future will need to have.. Brazil Neither/nor increased technological capability increased multi-lingual capability deeper technical skills better cross-cultural networking skills a higher aptitude for innovation more autonomous work habits none of the above Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 16

18 Which one will be the most important in the future? Brazil increased technological capability 42 increased multi-lingual capability 11 deeper technical skills 32 better cross-cultural networking skills 3 a higher aptitude for innovation 10 more autonomous work habits

19 In which ways will tomorrow s workforce differ from today s workforce? To what extent do you agree or disagree that the workforce of the future will need to have.. China Neither/nor increased technological capability increased multi-lingual capability deeper technical skills better cross-cultural networking skills a higher aptitude for innovation more autonomous work habits none of the above Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 18

20 Which one will be the most important in the future? China increased technological capability 35 increased multi-lingual capability 14 deeper technical skills 20 better cross-cultural networking skills 2 a higher aptitude for innovation 19 more autonomous work habits

21 In which ways will tomorrow s workforce differ from today s workforce? To what extent do you agree or disagree that the workforce of the future will need to have.. USA Neither/nor increased technological capability increased multi-lingual capability deeper technical skills better cross-cultural networking skills a higher aptitude for innovation more autonomous work habits none of the above Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 20

22 Which one will be the most important in the future? USA increased technological capability 34 increased multi-lingual capability 13 deeper technical skills 13 better cross-cultural networking skills 9 a higher aptitude for innovation 20 more autonomous work habits

23 In which ways will tomorrow s workforce differ from today s workforce? To what extent do you agree or disagree that the workforce of the future will need to have.. UK Neither/nor Increased technological capability Increased multi-lingual capability Deeper technical skills Better cross-cultural networking skills A higher aptitude for innovation More autonomous work habits None of the above Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 22

24 Which one will be the most important in the future? UK Increased technological capability 36 Increased multi-lingual capability 14 Deeper technical skills 15 Better cross-cultural networking skills 13 A higher aptitude for innovation 10 More autonomous work habits

25 To what extent does the Government or State education system offer opportunities for your company to input into the design or reform of the education system? To a great extent 19 To some extent 38 To a little extent 20 To no extent at all

26 To what extent does the Government or State education system offer opportunities for your company to input into the design or reform of the education system? To a great extent To some extent To a little extent To no extent at all UK USA China Brazil 25

27 In your opinion, what strategies should the business sector adopt to ensure it has access to the most suitable employees in the future? Brazil Neither/nor Work with and lobby government directly Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe None of the above, business does not want to work with government Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 26

28 In your opinion which of these would be most effective? Brazil Work with and lobby government directly 33 Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education 37 Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly 20 Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe 9 None of the above, business does not want to work with government

29 What strategies should the business sector adopt to ensure it has access to the most suitable employees in the future? China Neither/nor Work with and lobby government directly Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe None of the above, business does not want to work with government Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 28

30 In your opinion which of these would be most effective? China Work with and lobby government directly 22 Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education 43 Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly 13 Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe 22 None of the above, business does not want to work with government

31 What strategies should the business sector adopt to ensure it has access to the most suitable employees in the future? USA Neither/nor Work with and lobby government directly Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe None of the above, business does not want to work with government Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 30

32 In your opinion which of these would be most effective? USA Work with and lobby government directly 18 Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education 45 Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly 25 Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe 5 None of the above, business does not want to work with government

33 What strategies should the business sector adopt to ensure it has access to the most suitable employees in the future? UK Neither/nor Work with and lobby government directly Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe None of the above, business does not want to work with government Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 32

34 In your opinion which of these would be most effective? UK Work with and lobby government directly 25 Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education 42 Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly 21 Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe 5 None of the above, business does not want to work with government

35 What strategies should the business sector adopt to ensure it has access to the most suitable employees in the future? Total sample Neither/nor Work with and lobby government directly Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe None of the above, business does not want to work with government Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree 34

36 In your opinion which of these would be most effective? Total sample Work with and lobby government directly 25 Work with private providers to commission customised individual employee education 41 Pool resources with other businesses and service students directly 20 Widen the talent pool by recruiting from across the globe 10 None of the above, business does not want to work with government

37 Sample profile 36

38 Type of respondents level of seniority Brazil China USA UK Chief executive, senior partner, managing director Partner, director or senior executive 37

39 Business sector 18 Agriculture/Mining/Manufacturing Services UK USA China Brazil 38

40 Q6 In which country are you based? UK 100 USA 102 China 100 Brazil Number of responses 39

41 This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. In this document, "PwC" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a limited liability partnership in the United Kingdom), which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity. copyright GEMS MENASA IPCO (Cayman) limited