Fostering Innovation – Building The Mindset For Student: Are We Ready for What’s Coming?

On 1st October 2025, Business Lab UNPAR collaborating with Open Universiteit, The Netherlands, held a seminar with the grand theme “Fostering Innovation: Building the Mindset for Student”, with our amazing speakers, Prof.Jol Stoffers,PhD, Dr.Martine J.H.Coun, and Vanderstukken Arne from Open Universiteit, The Netherlands. Attended by more than 100 students across faculties and backgrounds, the seminar brought together insights from different perspectives about the future of work, business and leadership, especially from the international lens.

The seminar hit us with a reality check: the world of work is changing faster than ever. By 2025, businesses won’t just be looking for people with degrees, they’ll be searching for skills that go beyond textbooks. And as Business Administration students, this is exactly what we need to prepare for.

According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025, here are the top skills we need to survive and thrive:
– Analytical Thinking, not just solving case studies, but turning messy problems into clear solutions.
– Resilience & Agility, because plans change, and so must we.
– Leadership & Social Influence, the power to guide, inspire, and impact others.
– Creative Thinking, fresh ideas that set us apart in business.
– Tech Literacy, from AI tools to data dashboards, we can’t run from it anymore.
– Empathy & Active Listening, because businesses are still about people, not just profit.
– Curiosity & Lifelong Learning, staying hungry to keep growing.
– Talent & Service Orientation, knowing how to bring out the best in others, while delivering value to customers.

Do you notice? These aren’t just “office skills”, but “life skills”. Life skills will shape how we lead, collaborate, and build careers that last.

Even though everything becomes digital, one thing that will never be replaced by technology, which is the Human Touch. One of the coolest insights from the talk was this: tech alone isn’t enough. We need technology that enhances human interaction, not replaces it. Technology is the bridge, but people are the heartbeat.

“Think about Gojek. Yes, it’s a tech company, but the real magic happens in the connection between drivers, merchants, and customers. Technology is the bridge, but people are the heartbeat. That’s the model of the future: humans and tech working side by side.” – Vanderstukken Arne

Another key insight: no one succeeds alone. Collaboration and teamwork are the true foundations of success, whether in startups, corporations, or community projects. And as Prof. Jol Stoffers, PhD, emphasized, the leaders of Gen Z must be transformational leaders, leaders who connect, empower, and use influence to uplift others while continuing to learn.

In essence, the future belongs to those who can blend analytical thinking with empathy, technology with humanity, and leadership with collaboration. For us as Business Administration students, this session was more than just a seminar, it was a roadmap. It reminded us that our field isn’t only about managing numbers or strategies, but about leading people, driving innovation, and preparing ourselves to be adaptable, ethical, and impactful leaders in tomorrow’s business world. The question remains: are we ready to embrace it?