Ask an Expert: Future of Education

In this edition of Ask an Expert, Karrie Dietz, Head of School at Australian International School Singapore, answers your questions on the Future of Education.

Q: What is the best way for parents or guardians to engage with schools to help foster the future of education?

A: The most powerful way parents can engage is by partnering closely with teachers, supporting school life, and sharing feedback openly. This partnership strengthens our community and ensures that every student thrives. Through a strong community, we cultivate an environment that encourages curiosity, resilience, and a love for lifelong learning. For example, at AIS, parents connect through structured conferences with teachers and support the school community via the Parent Association. Opportunities to build belonging are also present in informal ways, whether it’s a chat at pick-up, volunteering at our annual Global Festival event celebrating different cultures and traditions, or cheering on a sports team.

Q: Which skills do you think will be the most essential for students in the future, and how can schools integrate these into learning?

A: The most essential skills for the future are critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability, all highlighted in the OECD Learning Compass 2030 framework. We use this framework to guide our own High Quality Teaching and Learning framework at AIS. These skills are taught through inquiry-based projects and teamwork across academics and co-curricular activities. We also encourage our students to take risks, reflect, and grow. In doing so, students experience real-life scenarios in a controlled environment that provide them with the know-how and experience to thrive in a changing world.

Q: What role do you see AI and emerging technologies playing in the classroom over the next few years?

A: AI and emerging technologies play a growing role in supporting learning, but at AIS we emphasise that the human remains key. Using our AI scale, we integrate these tools thoughtfully to personalise learning, enhance feedback, and support teachers, while ensuring that creativity, good judgment, and empathy guide the learning experience. We want to ensure that students are learning to use these technologies responsibly and ethically as they become increasingly ingrained in our everyday lives. This means using them as tools to enhance our skills and capabilities, while maintaining our own expertise and judgment, rather than relying solely on them.
 

Our classrooms can also serve as incubators for innovation, where students can experiment with and discover new ways to leverage these technologies. By fostering this creative environment, we prepare students for the future while unlocking new opportunities and career paths that have yet to be imagined.

Q: How can schools help to safeguard student wellbeing in an increasingly digital world?

A: This requires the combined effort of schools, families, and experts working together. At AIS, we partner with global leaders such as Susan McLean and Judith Locke to guide staff, students, and parents in building safe, balanced, and healthy digital habits. For example, students learn how to examine how their personal information is used by sites and apps, learn what "digital traces" they leave behind, and how those can affect them now and later. Students also learn how to recognise cyberbullying, how to be kind online, and how to respond appropriately when witnessing or experiencing bullying. Through education, open dialogue, and clear boundaries, we help young people thrive online and offline.

Q: What trends in global education are you personally most excited about or concerned by?

A: I’m excited by the way global education is shifting towards creativity, adaptability, and the importance of student voices. These are areas that align closely with our approach to students, which highlight the importance of preparing students not just with knowledge, but with the skills to innovate and collaborate across cultures. This future-focused mindset is what allows education to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. At the same time, I am mindful of the growing pressures on student wellbeing in an increasingly digital and competitive world. Our responsibility is to ensure that innovation is balanced with care, so that students are both future-ready and supported to thrive as individuals.

Q: Are university pathways shifting, and how is AIS responding to these changes?

A: University pathways are not so much shifting as expanding, with more opportunities available worldwide. At AIS, we're committed to helping our students navigate this evolving landscape and find the best-fit pathway for their future. Our careers and university guidance teams continuously track trends and requirements, ensuring that the students they work with are well-prepared for their next steps. 
 

We offer a flexible and student-centred approach, allowing students to complete various education paths, including IGCSE, IB and HSC. This approach has led to our students being accepted into top universities worldwide, with many opting for institutions in Australia, where we have a strong track record of placement. Ultimately, our goal is to empower students to pursue their aspirations, regardless of location, and we're proud to see them graduating to leading universities globally.
 

 Ask an Expert is a monthly series in which we call on subject experts within the AustCham Singapore community to answer questions that we may have on a specific topic. The strength of our community is in the diverse expertise within our membership, and we want to use this initiative to tap on the knowledge of our members to enrich the community as a whole.

Our expert for this month is Karrie Dietz, Head of School at Australian International School Singapore, an accomplished international educator and school leader with over 25 years of experience across six countries. She is known for her strategic leadership, commitment to academic excellence, and passion for empowering students to thrive in a global future. 

Her career spans senior leadership roles in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Bangladesh. As the Founding Head of School at Stamford American School Hong Kong, she built a values-driven community focused on respect and high achievement. She has led curriculum development across all four International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes and continues to contribute to school improvement through her work with Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation teams.

Connect with Karrie on LinkedIn.