21st Century Educational Challenges for a Changing Society: A Bibliographic Review

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https://doi.org/10.17583/qre.16374

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Abstract

Society is constantly changing and evolving, and faces challenges such as ensuring quality education and economic and social progress. The aim of this study is to analyse the educational challenges of 21st century society and to make a scientifically based reflection. It is based on a systematic review of the literature following the PICO strategy and PRISMA statement, the results of which allow the studies to be grouped into five areas: Technology in Education; 21st Century Competences; New Approaches to Teaching and Learning; Networking, Cooperation, Collaboration and Coexistence; and Inclusion, Equality and Diversity. The main conclusions point to the need to: revitalise the education system based on technology; virtualise learning processes; focus on digital competence training for teachers and students; and the need to promote quality education, oriented towards integrated, deep, reliable learning, based on challenging, authentic and constructivist experiences, for which it will be necessary to adapt and innovate curricular elements to 21st century competences, which should be aimed at achieving learning that is coherent with the levels of employability in the market and in line with the demands of the global world.

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2025-06-27

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Arruti, A., & Paños-Castro, J. (2025). 21st Century Educational Challenges for a Changing Society: A Bibliographic Review. Qualitative Research in Education, 14(2), 96–115. https://doi.org/10.17583/qre.16374

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