4.1 Redesigning the Education System

   A structural and long-term transformation is taking place in the world. The decentralized communication platforms together with the rapid expansion and use of artificial intelligence will produce a major change in our society. This situation demands empowering the citizens both in skills and critical thinking to ensure both economic growth and social and political stability. The goal of attaining together Economic Development, Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability require a major transformation of our education systems.

   The complexity of the situations faced today by decision-takers is extreme. The variety of issues - ecological, social, economic, energy, transport, migratory, etc. - and their interrelations is huge. Hence, decision-takers need to use systemic approaches to cope with the complexity of these issues. Within the systems movement, a wealth of conceptual and methodological knowledge has been created, that is adequate for this task. Both researchers and practitioners now have the problem of making young people aware and knowledgeable of these foundations and proficient in their application.

   Today’s education system is fragmented and has become very ineffective and inefficient. Redesigning the education system means providing alternative ways of disseminating systems approaches (e.g., leaner-centered education, problem and project Based Learning/PBL), so the students get familiarized with systemic approaches, their methodologies, methods, tools, concepts etc. and can experience the emergent properties that do appear in systems and their contexts. Beyond that, governance structures need a revision as well together with innovative organizational forms to deliver education from k12 to higher and life-long learning. In all cases avoiding fragmentation and cultivating a cyber-systemic way of thinking and enacting.