Abstract:

21st century skills are multidimensional and highly demanding, especially in highest academic level. Academic education is facing new challenges and expectations which are set eg. by working life and individuals in academic contexts. Universities are trying to balance between new demands and older academic traditions.

Individuals in highest academic contexts are facing global change and requirements in their everyday life. Academic education should enable participation in working life and give good generic and field specialized skills. The highest academic education and working life do not share the same understanding of expertise skills.

In my paper I will discuss the highest academic education through individual experiences. How academic students evaluate their generic and specialized skills and their employability? How different working life careers are constructed? What skills can be constructed in academic contexts and what other skills are needed in 21st century?