Cultivating Creative Thinkers for the Future of Work

The future of work is changing fast. Artificial intelligence (AI) and global trends are continually reshaping jobs. Students need more than just technical knowledge to succeed in the long term. They require creativity, problem-solving skills, resilience, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.

Recent research from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence shows that positive school climate is associated with students who:

• Adopt positive attitudes toward creativity

• Engage in creative behaviors

• Achieving creatively

Personal skills and motivation, as well as the opinions of others (such as team members or classmates), and available resources shape creativity. Creativity can feel risky and vulnerable, especially for adolescents. Schools play a crucial role in helping students feel safe and supported, enabling them to explore and express their creativity. When students have this support, we see positive outcomes. They build foundational skills needed to innovate and succeed in today’s world.

Picture a school where dedicated leaders, educators, and students strike a balance between educational excellence and collective well-being. They work together to ensure all community members feel safe, supported, and valued while upholding their commitment to academic excellence. This is the vision of Mexico’s Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey.

“Our goal is to produce the best and most innovative engineers in Mexico,” says Rafa Abrego, former Director of Innovation and Student Life at PrepaTec. In 2016, PrepaTec invested in RULER, an approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Over the years, RULER has helped PrepaTec enhance student and educator engagement, performance, well-being, and school climate.

Research shows that when schools create positive climates, such as those found at PrepaTec, students develop stronger, more positive attitudes toward creativity. When students feel positive about creativity, they are more likely to try new ideas and innovate. School environments like PrepaTec support students in developing creative thinking skills and how they manage emotions related to the creative process.

Creating a positive school climate requires teamwork and commitment. One proven way is by using an SEL program like RULER. SEL teaches students how to build trust, manage their emotions, and feel a sense of belonging. These skills help fuel creativity and innovation.

In today’s fast-changing world, where creative thinking is key to success, schools that build supportive climates are helping students grow into confident, adaptable thinkers—ready for the future of work.

Learn more about these efforts in “School climate and students’ attitudes toward creativity,” published on May 20, 2025 in Thinking Skills and Creativity.