Today, we live in a world that is consistently changing and innovating. Technology has advanced more in the last thirty years than in the previous two thousand and this increase in advancement will only continue to rise exponentially. We are living in a world remarkably different from say just three decades in the past. It is indeed a global village dominated and completely transformed by ideas such as the internet, Facebook, television etc. The only way to survive let alone prosper is through keeping up with the times, accepting modernisation and creating opportunities in the change. Otherwise, one will go the way of the film camera, the VCR, audio cassettes and fax machines.
To keep pace with the rapidly changing times, it is imperative that the future generations be properly educated and trained for the jobs and market place of tomorrow. Jobs that might possibly not even exist right now considering how innovation completely changes the landscape. A little hard to imagine? Try asking a 20 year old in the 1980s about a social media marketer or a website and app developer and you will get an idea.
For the future generations to be completely prepared to handle tomorrow’s challenges, it is essential that society is consistently self-evaluating, evolving and innovating at the same pace as the rest of the world.
This is exactly the foundation of the SOT Event ‘World of Tomorrow-Reimagined’ to be held on November 3-4 at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi. The 2 day event seeks to extend our discourse as we pose even more probing questions about the future of humanity.
A History of Innovation
School of Tomorrow (SOT) Events are free-to-public conferences that started in the year 2000 and are organised by Beaconhouse as part of its ongoing commitment to its corporate social responsibility. Over the years, the events have featured hundreds of activists, cultural leaders, educators, futurists, thinkers, along with three prime ministers and presidents and other trailblazers from across Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, India and other countries.
SOT Events have taken place in the following cities:
- Islamabad in March 2017 – A World of Tomorrow: Seeking Inspiration and Equilibrium in a New Age
- Lahore in November 2016 – A World of Tomorrow: Seeking Inspiration and Equilibrium in a New Age
- Karachi in November 2015 – School of Tomorrow: The End of Education?* (*As we know it)
- Kuala Lumpur in November 2012 – School of Tomorrow: Empowering Lifelong Learners
- Lahore in November 2010 – School of Tomorrow: Freedom to Learn
- Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad in November 2005 – Towards 2035: The School of Tomorrow
- Islamabad in January 2000 – Rethinking Education
The World of Tomorrow Reimagined
A World of Tomorrow Reimagined aims to provide a setting to deepen our social discourse by introducing inspirational new ideas and solutions to the many challenges faced across the world. It will bring together members of the public with leading thinkers from Pakistan and around the world along with a cast of talented and outspoken young people to discuss emerging issues within contemporary societies and how these may contribute to a better future for our children and their children.
The event will feature over 90 speakers from 15 countries participating in 40 sessions. It will feature panel discussions, debates, keynote presentations, workshops, interactive art and science exhibits, cultural performances, and much more. The event will be open to all- the public, private and the not-for-profit sectors.
The World of Tomorrow will focus on the impact of media and digital technologies, art and popular culture, climate change and environment and geopolitics and global security on society on the whole. It will raise crucial questions on key issues that affect our lives today, for example, how the Fourth Industrial Revolution will impact the whole world. It will examine the amazing ways that technology has revolutionised almost every aspect of our existence but will also analyse the dangers and consequences that come from the abuse of such instruments.
The event’s 40 sessions are divided into the following interconnected dimensions:
- A Symbiotic Future (focal points: artificial intelligence and humanity; evolving technologies effect on medical science, genetics, and engineering )
- A Balanced Future (focal points: sustainable economic development; environment and climate change; the future of humanity)
- An Expressive Future (focal points: art as a universal language; role of visual and performing arts in effecting change; global and local languages; freedom of expression)
- An Inclusive Future (focal points: unity through diversity; inclusion of the economically and educationally disadvantaged; minority issues; learning differences; gender bias in education, sports and other pursuits; non-binary gender issues; barriers for change)
- An Unkown Future (focal points: deweaponisation/disarmament, local, regional and global security; peace; a drug-free future; personal and online safety)
Some of the topics under discussion at the SOT 2018 are:
- Navigating the Surveillance Society
- Conscience and Consciousness: Ethics in AI
- Where did my money go? The Future of Money
- The Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Brands 4 Bands: Corporate music-making
- Future Fashion
- #MeToo & Beyond
- Climate Change
In addition to the panel discussions, get hands-on experience of the future with the workshops being offered at the event. Participate and satiate your yearning for learning in FULL Steam, an interactive, educational, science and art exhibition. Here everyone can interact with the most innovative art installations and tinker with interactive science stations that both teach and entertain.
The World of Tomorrow Reimagined will be held on November 3-4 at the Beach Luxury Hotel. It is completely free and open to everyone so do join us and be a part of the change towards a better future!
For further information on the School of Tomorrow event, programme and speaker profiles, please visit www.sotevents or search for SOT Events on Facebook.
