Bridging the Gap Between the Higher Education and Labor Markets : Relevance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

This book studies and resolves the challenge of bridging the gap between higher education and the labor market arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It unfolds and elucidates the understudied and previously unknown social nature of Industry 4.0, characterized by workers’ dashed expectations regarding automation. Consequently, the book proposes a scientific-practical approach to social adaptation to Industry 4.0 through higher education. The novelty of this approach lies in the fact that, instead of passively waiting, workers engage in flexible adaptation to evolving labor market conditions, while universities demonstrate increased flexibility in managing and modernizing educational programs. The book presents a comprehensive set of prospective solutions to bridge the gap between higher education and the labor market, leveraging the unique technological possibilities of Industry 4.0. This book explains the essence and technological opportunities for overcoming the gap between higher education and the labor market in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It also delves into and extensively discusses international experiences (including the Kyrgyz Republic, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Peru, the Republic of South Africa, Arabian Peninsula Countries, and Russia) and prospects for overcoming the gap between higher education and labor market in the conditions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with particular attention to Central Asian countries.