Developing uncertainty tolerance in students to tackle future workplace challenges

What is it about?

In higher education (HE), students get ready for a future full of uncertainty. Uncertainty is a feature of threshold concepts, which, once learned, change how the world is seen and cannot be forgotten. Uncertainty tolerance (UT), which refers to how an individual perceives, processes, and responds to uncertainty, is important for success in both work and life. This research looked at what causes and moderates UT in different workplaces. It also explored teaching practices that help students develop UT. For this purpose, survey and interview data were collected from academics at Monash University, Australia.

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Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The analysis showed that workplace uncertainties often arise from the unpredictability of people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Other reasons include differences between what's taught and what's done, personal backgrounds, and how people relate to each other. Different sectors handle uncertainties in different ways. Education and healthcare use rules and plans, whereas business and healthcare depend on predictions. Meanwhile, education and science accept uncertainties as inherent to their work. In HE, group work and case based studies help students develop the skills needed to manage uncertainties at work. Educators recognize the importance of UT for the workplace, but better training is needed to teach it effectively. The study strongly suggests giving HE teachers more chances to learn how to teach UT. KEY TAKEAWAY: Universities must prepare students for dynamic workplaces by teaching them to handle uncertainty and manage troublesome knowledge across disciplines. They can use shared uncertainty to improve essential workplace skills. This research relates to the following Sustainable Development Goals: • SDG 4: Quality Education • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities