Rethinking education in the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR): perspective of less developed countries

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), people are experiencing a paradigm shift due to the integration of disruptive technologies such as mobile internet, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence in many industries around the world. This precipitates the need to acquire the requisite skills and competencies to fulfil current job responsibilities and ensure future employability. Therefore, educational sectors must redouble efforts towards generating high-quality human capital that fosters innovations that enhance the competitiveness of enterprises and society as a whole —nowhere more so than in less developed countries (LDCs). It is undeniable that a synergistic blend of pre-employment training and on-the-job learning results in a workforce that is prepared to meet the demands of these dynamic conditions. LDCs are only just beginning to embrace the knowledge, innovation, creativity, and adaptability necessary to face the challenges of today's volatile, complex, and ambiguous global environment. This study provides pertinent discussion that identifies essential competencies of Education 4.0, as well as the obstacles encountered in acquiring those competencies in LDCs. We conclude by highlighting recommendations for transforming the workforce of developing countries through the incorporation of innovative curricula, technology-enhanced interactive pedagogy, and e-assessment to enable seamless adaptive learning.