SOPRG Presentation by Prof Ann Brewer on AI and modern career trajectories on Tuesday 17th October

SOPRG, the School of Psychology’s Social and Organisational Psychology Research Group invites you to a presentation by Professor Ann Brewer, the Dean of the University of Newcastle Sydney Campus, who will discuss a current book project on encountering, experiencing and shaping careers.

 
TITLE: Encountering, Experiencing and Shaping Careers

WHEN: Tuesday 17th October, 12-1pm

WHERE: Keats room, Aviation building’s room AVGL17 (video conference link to Science Offices’ seminar room, Ourimbah)

ABSTRACT: The diminution of career for life is upon us. Advances in cognitive computing and artificial intelligence will transform modern life by reshaping all industries including transportation, health, science, finance, and education and training. Consequently work is being restructured; how it is organised with a huge impact on people’s careers.

The concept of career is complex and becomes less straightforward with every new generation leaving school. Despite the increasing need for a thorough rethinking about careers, most people are still getting by on reciting past evidence, reinforcing the status quo and following current educational practice. For most of us, how we think about careers has been entrenched since childhood. However, the career context has changed dramatically over a relatively short period of time. People will have multiple and diverse roles as well as an extended life span and most likely will continue to work past what is conventionally accepted as the retirement age.

Secondly from the time a person starts school through to their working life, the focus is on how well they perform and their achievements. Every generation has experienced this. However with changes in the global economy and labour markets, competition has intensified for the individual. Over time a person develops varying aspirations, ambitions and perceptions about their ‘career’ success, now and in the future. Throughout their lives, people will encounter career progress, failure, disruption and blockage in varying degrees. People will also experience fluctuating intensities of career control, satisfaction, disappointment, anxiety and regret. Amidst this change, the notion of a career has changed.

What are the implications of economic, social and technological change for the upcoming generations? What does career mean today? Has the focus moved from career to employability? Who owns a ‘career’? Has the balance of career control moved from the employer to the individual? How is career adaptability shaped? Increasingly, the focus is on career development, coaching, transitions, choosing or changing careers, a portfolio career or indeed not having a career at all.
The book aims to investigate how people encounter, experience and shape their careers and delves into these issues and questions including: what are the implications for organisational psychology, career guidance and counselling? Are there new careers in the making for psychologists?

Bio:  https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/ann-brewer#career