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YOUTH THINKING AHEAD-The FUTURE OF WORK


VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

Organized by the TASC Platform and the Graduate Institute’s CTEI, Professional Development Committee and Macro-Development Research Initiative together with the Global Shapers Community, Geneva

The future should be shaped by those who will live it. Join us for an intergenerational conversation about the future of work through the eyes of young leaders and established professionals from academia, business, and civil society.

This event will take place over 2 days:

  • 29 April | 13:00-17:00 CET

  • 30 April | 13:00-17:00 CET

Youth Thinking Ahead 2021 launches a new youth-led initiative driving critical discussions and fresh perspectives on international affairs and development. This interactive event will bring young leaders together with established experts and practitioners from across sectors and geographies to explore the unprecedented changes to work as we know it over the course of 2020, and their implications for young people today and in the future.

 BRINGING THE GLOBAL VOICE OF YOUTH INTO INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSIONS

The Future of Work is facing massive, simultaneous, and interconnected disruptions, made more acute by the impacts of Covid-19. Work has moved online at an incredible pace, demonstrating our capacity for technology and behaviour change at speed and scale. Many young people, the digital natives of this world, see this as an obvious natural progression.

At the same time, young people today are experiencing socio-economic and environmental precarity and uncertainty unlike the generation which precedes them. The youth, young adults in particular have borne a significant share of the burden imposed by Covid-19 restrictions. Their education, professional development, livelihoods and holistic wellbeing have all but been put on hold across geographies during the pandemic and remain even more uncertain as the global economy slowly reopens into a ‘new normal’.  

There can be no ‘new normal’ for the future of work unless it is shaped by those it affects the most in 2021, 2030 and beyond.

EVENT OBJECTIVES

This interactive event will bring young leaders together with established experts and practitioners from across sectors and geographies to explore the unprecedented changes to work as we know it, and their implications for young people today and in the future. 

Over two afternoons, we will explore the future of work through a series of youth-centric intergenerational dialogues on the following four themes: 

Technology reshaping the future of work

The rapid rise of digitalisation has opened up new opportunities and challenges in the world of work. How is technology impacting and going to impact the future of work?

Environmental sustainability and decent work

The necessity for a just ecological transition is challenging the world of work in the short and long term. How will climate change impact employment? How can we combine the need for sustainability with decent work?

Law at the forefront of economic and social changes

Digitalisation, the gig-economy and preexisting inequalities are increasing the socio-economic precarity of young people. How can law help frame the future of work and tackle pressing social and economic issues?

Rethinking the notion of work

In this digitalised age, is it time to question the very notion of work and what it means for the youth? Can we redefine work in the light of concepts such as social utility, happiness or productivity?  What is the role of universal basic income, digital work, or the crisis of meaning of our work?

Programme Overview: Day 1

29 April 2021

WELCOME INTRODUCTIONS AND OVERVIEW | 13:00 CET

Youth Thinking Ahead Co-Organisers: 

  • Alexandre Maaza, Master candidate in International Affairs, Graduate Institute, Geneva

  • Alice Maréchal, Master candidate in Development Studies, Graduate Institute, Geneva

OPENING PLENARY: A FIRESIDE CHAT |  13:15 CET

Moderator: Kitrhona Cerri, Executive Director, TASC Platform

BREAK | 13:45-14:00 CET

SESSION 1: TECHNOLOGY RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF WORK | 14:00 CET

Moderator: Mariana Mendez, Master candidate in International Affairs Graduate Institute, Geneva

BREAK | 15:00-15:15 CET

SESSION 2: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DECENT WORK FOR A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE | 15:15 CET

Moderator: Dario de Quarti, Master candidate in International Economics, Graduate Institute, Geneva 

ONLINE NETWORKING | 16:15-17:00 CET

Join us on Run the World for this Networking session – a 1:1 speed networking event. Everyone in the event will be matched with a new person every 5 minutes. After the conversation, you can follow up via private messaging and share your experience and take-aways with the broader TASC Community.

We recommend using Chrome as a browser when connecting to the event. The technology doesn't work well with other browsers.

Please find below helpful links from the Run The World platform:  
https://help.runtheworld.today/en/articles/3607300-attend-an-event
https://help.runtheworld.today/en/articles/4583725-how-to-join-your-event

Should you have an issues refresh your page and rejoin the event.


 PROGRAMME OVERVIEW: DAY 2

30 April 2021

WELCOME AND RECAP | 13:00 CET

SESSION 3: LAW AT THE FOREFRONT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGES | 13:15 CET

Moderator: Maël Azokly, Master candidate in Law, Université de Genève 

BREAK | 14:15-14:30 CET

SESSION 4: RETHINKING THE NOTION OF WORK | 14:30 CET

Plenary introductions and breakout room discussions

  • Blockchain and the future of work: Alexandre Maaza, Youth Thinking Ahead Co-organiser

  • Social utility and the future of work: Alice Maréchal, Youth Thinking Ahead Co-organiser

  • Digital inclusion and the future of work: Anamaria Meshkurti, Program Officer, International Telecommunications Union

  • New media and the future of work: Michelle Olguin, Podcast Producer, Graduate Institute, Geneva

Moderator: Claudia Seymour, Senior Researcher, Graduate Institute, Geneva

CLOSING PLENARY | 15:30 CET

The event coordinators are joined by key stakeholders to reflect on the insights from the two afternoons and highlight ideas to take forward.

ONLINE NETWORKING | 16:15-17:00 CET

Join us on Run the World for this Networking session – a 1:1 speed networking event. Everyone in the event will be matched with a new person every 5 minutes. After the conversation, you can follow up via private messaging and share your experience and take-aways with the broader TASC Community.

We recommend using Chrome as a browser when connecting to the event. The technology doesn't work well with other browsers.

Please find below helpful links from the Run The World platform:  
https://help.runtheworld.today/en/articles/3607300-attend-an-event
https://help.runtheworld.today/en/articles/4583725-how-to-join-your-event

Should you have an issues refresh your page and rejoin the event.


To learn more about the TASC Platform and engage with our multi-stakeholder network become a member of the TASC Community.

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TOWARDS WORK IN 2030: VIRTUAL EXPERT WORK ON PLATFORMS

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