How Future‑Ready Education Prepares Gen Z for 17 Jobs Across 5–7 Careers

Author: Peter Ellis, Head of Secondary

Gen Z will have up to 17 jobs across 5–7 careers in their lifetime—a statistic that highlights exactly why future‑ready education matters more than ever.

At AIS, we prepare students for that reality. I’ve recently joined the Australian International School (AIS) as Head of Secondary, and this future‑focused approach is at the heart of our mission.

Education today must go beyond exams. It’s about equipping young people with adaptability, resilience and a lifelong love of learning.

Discovering AIS, a community that lives its values

Having relocated from Australia, I’ve been inspired by AIS’s strong sense of community and commitment to academic rigour. The enthusiasm for learning and the supportive environment that resonates throughout the campus are truly remarkable.

What struck me most in my first few weeks was how genuinely future‑ready the students already are. They don’t just talk about what they want to be, whether a doctor, a designer, or an engineer. They talk about problems they want to solve. As educators, that’s precisely the mindset we need to nurture.

A Journey from the sailing boat to the school gate

My journey into education began unexpectedly through sailing. While studying engineering at university, I coached young sailors in the Junior National Squad in my free time. That experience sparked a passion for teaching and led me to complete a postgraduate certificate in education after graduating.

Since then, I’ve taught and led in diverse settings, and the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt have come through leadership coaching. It taught me to lead by listening, to make feedback an essential part of growth, and to strike a balance between heart and head in decision‑making. Nothing gives me more joy than seeing students thrive. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or on stage.

Over the past two decades, I’ve been fortunate to work with inspiring school communities across the UK and Australia. I’ve seen education systems adapt to enormous change. From shifts in curriculum to how young people now learn, connect, and apply knowledge.

Along the way, I pursued a master’s in educational leadership at Monash University (Melbourne) and completed a certificate in school management and leadership at Harvard University.

This journey has deepened my passion for building innovative learning environments that balance tradition with transformation.

Before joining AIS, I had the privilege of serving as principal at a school recognised nationally as Australia’s Government School of the Year (2023), one celebrated as one of Australia’s most innovative. But beyond the accolade, what mattered most to me was how creativity, collaboration and community spirit helped every student shine. Those same values now shape the work we do here at AIS.

Why career adaptability is the new essential skill

Traditional education once prepared students for a single career for life. That model no longer works.

Research suggests that today’s Gen Z learners will move through 17 jobs across five to seven careers. For them, change is constant. And education must prepare them for that fluidity. This is where future‑ready education truly comes alive. Universities and employers increasingly value leadership, creativity and extracurricular experience alongside academics.

At AIS, we provide students with opportunities to explore their passions, develop their strengths and prepare for diverse futures. We see our role as helping them become self‑aware learners who can reflect, adapt and grow throughout their lives.

Future‑ready education is about more than 21st‑century skills. It’s about mindset. Curiosity, resilience and the capacity to relearn may be the most valuable skills our students ever develop.

How AIS builds future‑ready learners every day

What excites me most about AIS is its balanced approach. Academic excellence remains a priority, but equal weight is given to well-being, leadership and character. Learning here is meaningful and active. Not simply a preparation for exams but a foundation for life.

Already, I’ve seen classrooms filled with inquiry, collaboration and real‑world problems. Students linking theory to practice, data to ethics, and learning to impact. These experiences equip them with transferable skills that will stay relevant no matter which of their five or seven careers they pursue.

Employers say they want graduates who can adapt, communicate and learn fast. That agility doesn’t develop overnight; it evolves through experience, reflection and challenge. 

At AIS, each subject and co-curricular activity offers small moments of growth, helping students tackle uncertainty with confidence. Drawing on my background in educational leadership, policy and teacher coaching, my goal is to ensure our teachers are empowered to ignite that growth. When teachers are supported to be creative and reflective, students become more engaged, and the entire community benefits.

Empowering a generation to thrive through change

The world is changing rapidly, from AI and automation to shifts in university admissions. Our responsibility is to equip students with options, confidence and the ability to learn continuously—the true hallmarks of future‑ready education.

At AIS, we recognise that a student’s path may twist and turn. And that’s a strength, not a limitation. They’ll forge careers we can’t yet name, often working in fields we can’t yet imagine. But what will remain constant is their need for the human skills that AIS encourages every day. Empathy, communication, and ethical curiosity.

In my next article, I’ll share more about the pathways AIS offers to support every learner, whether they thrive in an exam‑based environment or pursue individual interests.

I’m excited to work with our community to shape adaptable, future‑ready learners. This is why I chose AIS, a place where education is really about preparing for life, not just the next exam.