Canva's new report highlights the need for educational reform in the UK

Canva, the world’s only all-in-one visual communication platform, released its Creativity in Education Report 2024, revealing insights into the state of creativity in education and its impact on the workforce.

Key findings from the report:

• Over three quarters (77%) of recent graduates view creativity as essential for securing a job, and believe it is crucial for success in their current job roles. They also rank creativity as the most useful skill they learned in university, and over half (56%) wish they had developed stronger creativity skills during their university education.
• There’s a significant gap between graduate confidence and employer expectations. While 64% of recent graduates feel that their higher education prepared them very well for the workforce, only 34% of educators and 44% of hiring managers share this view. This gap highlights a need for better alignment between educational outcomes and the skills employers are looking for.
• Despite the agreed importance of creativity, educators face challenges when integrating creativity into their teaching: 80% of educators, 84% of hiring managers, and almost all (94%) of recent graduates agree that creativity will become a bigger focus in education. However, educators cite lack of time (38%), lack of curriculum support (37%), and inadequate funding and resources (38%) as major obstacles in impeding this goal. These challenges are impacting efforts to provide students with more opportunities to develop creative skills.
• As AI continues to transform the job market, the need for human creativity is more important than ever. 79% of recent graduates and 71% of hiring managers think creativity will become even more crucial as technology evolves; 69% of graduates and 56% of hiring managers see AI as an enabler for creativity. The majority (88%) of recent graduates are also more likely than educators (68%) and hiring managers (78%) to think that the rise of technology and AI will likely encourage more creative thinking, as technology cannot fully replicate the innovative problem-solving that human creativity drives

The findings underscore a critical need to rethink how students are equipped for their future careers. Creativity is emerging as a crucial skill, on par with traditional STEM subjects, yet it often lacks the attention it deserves in current educational curricula. The report calls for a shift in educational focus to better prepare students from primary school through higher education for the demands of a rapidly evolving job market.

To further help bridge the gap between education and work, Affinity’s professional-grade creative software is now accessible for free for eligible schools. Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher are perfect for students who want to follow career paths involving advanced graphic design, image editing and page layout, supported by bespoke teaching and learning materials.

Petia Maximova, Canva’s Head of Higher Education EMEA said:

With creativity being a major catalyst for business growth, it’s clear why employers regard it as a highly sought after skill. However, there is a concerning gap between graduates' preparedness and employer expectations. To address this, there's a need for greater emphasis on nurturing creativity and problem-solving capabilities in the classroom alongside technical skills. Integrating creative applications and AI into classrooms through tools like Canva and Affinity can significantly alleviate the pressures on teachers, while also making creative skills more accessible for students, enabling them to thrive in the evolving workforce.

Survey Methodology: This research, conducted by The Harris Poll in June 2024, surveyed 3,066 participants across the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. The sample included 1,234 recent college graduates who had earned their degrees within the past 12-24 months and are currently in the workforce, 915 educators from high schools and colleges and 917 hiring managers from midmarket (500+) and enterprise (1000+) companies spanning various industries. The survey explored perspectives on creativity's role in education and the workplace, the gap between graduate skills and employer expectations, and the impact of AI on creative processes.