them they would be unable to do a good job. Whatever business you are in, whether you work in law and finance, education, or the health sector, critical thinking has a crucial role to play, and in some cases, it can even be lifesaving. The pressures and demands being placed on the shoulders of young people today have perhaps never been greater – whether it’s the pressure to do well in exams given the huge cost of university fees, or the impact of social media on everything from mental health to body image – which is why it is so important they possess the skills needed to navigate a world that has changed beyond all recognition in the space of a single generation. Not only that, but if we also want our young people to be effective problem solvers in these uncertain times, and go on and enjoy happy, productive and successful careers in the business world of tomorrow (whatever shape that may take) then we need to equip them with the skills and tools they need today. If we can do that then as a society all of us, young and old, will reap the benefits. ‘A collaborative approach between youth organisations, businesses and educational organisations is the way forward’
Despite the funding challenges, youth organisations continue to provide crucial services such as care, support, social events and help with education, and tailor various programmes around what young people need to excel later in life. The outcome is a boost in their sense of self-worth, offering them a chance to form friendships, gain new skills, and grow their confidence, as well as learn how not to conform to peer or social pressures. All of this enables critical thinking to occur – critical thinking can only come when people are exposed to a variety of methods of knowledge digestion. A collaborative approach between youth organisations, businesses and educational organisations is the way forward – and will have a lasting impact for individuals to take with them when they step into the workplace for the very first time and are exposed to the problems we businesspeople know all too well. While educational settings teach vital knowledge, collaborations between other organisations can expose young people to different scenarios, equipping them with the right skills to be able to problem solve. Problem solving is all about using logic and imagination to make sense of a situation and to come up with an intelligent solution. In other words, it’s about identifying a problem, collecting information about the cause of that problem, weighing up possible solutions and then selecting the best option before planning and implementing it. Critical thinkers are good problem
what you hear or read. It enables you to identify different points of view, put together arguments, as well as evaluate the arguments made by others. It also involves being self- critical otherwise decisions can be taken without considering your assumptions, wishes and fears. So, from a business perspective, it enables you to see the full picture before deciding what to do next. That’s why we should be building it into all aspects of the education system – from nursery right through to mature student level. There is evidence to back this up. In 2017, Nadia Siddiqui from the School of Education at Durham University led a Nuffield Foundation study into the impact of the Philosophy for Children programme, in which she uncovered data on the benefits that critical thinking skills brought to more than 2,500 pupils, aged nine to 12, in 42 primary schools across the UK. The ability to think critically and problem solve are also transferable skills which mean they are useful in many different situations, whether it’s filtering out fakery from the truth, especially on busy social media feeds, at school, or in the workplace. There are wider implications too. More than half of the world’s population is now under the age of 30, so the importance of youth participation when it comes to tackling our most pressing challenges, such as climate change, conflict and poverty, is clear to see. As a global community, we are at a crucial juncture in terms of support for young people. According to figures from the youth charity, YMCA, funding for youth centres in England and Wales has been cut by nearly £1bn GBP over the past decade, while youth clubs are still waiting to receive the £500m GBP promised by the UK government through its Youth Investment Fund. This was announced in 2019 and came with a pledge to help build 60 new youth centres across the country, refurbish 360 existing youth facilities, and provide more than 100 mobile facilities, as well as support the provision and coordination of services for young people. All of this is commendable; however, the focus is on buildings rather than the most important element – skilled people to work in them.
solvers and usually express themselves well because they can think clearly and methodically about any issue put in front of them. This is hugely beneficial when it comes to decision-
making because it allows them to filter out anything superfluous and focus on what is important, which means they are more likely to make the correct decision. All successful business leaders will possess these skills – which can help prevent costly mistakes – because without
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