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Laura: Hello, welcome to our latest episode of the Brighter Thinking Pod from the International Education Group of Cambridge University Press and Assessment. Today, I'm your host. My name is Laura Kowati, and I'm an Education Futures Manager at Cambridge.

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Laura: At Cambridge, we recently published a report, Preparing Learners to Thrive in a Changing World. This report captures the voices of thousands of teachers and students from around the world, offering a wealth of perspectives on readiness for the future.

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Laura: Today, I’m speaking to two Cambridge students who contributed to that report. We’ll be talking about their studies and how prepared they feel for life beyond school.

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Laura: So, let’s meet our guests. Hello Nadine and hello Stepan.

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Nadine: Hi.

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Stepan: Hello.

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Laura: Please could you start by introducing yourselves and telling us a little bit about yourself? Nadine, could I start with you?

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Nadine: I’m Nadine, I’m 18, and I live in Egypt. Over the past two years, I’ve completed eight IGCSEs and two A levels in biology and maths. I’m currently taking my final A level in chemistry. After that, I’m hoping to go to medical school in Italy, followed by possibly a PhD and a career in academia.

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Laura: That’s wonderful. Thank you, Nadine. Stepan, what about you?

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Stepan: Thanks for having me. I’m also 18 years old. I’m a Year 13 student taking biology, chemistry, psychology, and English. I’m planning to take a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and maybe a master’s in genetics.

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Laura: In our report, fewer than half of students—48 percent—said they felt well prepared for their next step in education, compared with 67 percent of teachers. How prepared do you feel for the future, and how confident do you feel navigating change? Nadine?

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Nadine: From a career perspective, my A levels have given me a strong foundation for medicine. However, I feel less confident in subjects I haven’t studied, such as bioethics. On a personal level, I think I may struggle with real-life skills like budgeting or general knowledge outside science. Change has always been difficult for me, but using the ADKAR model has helped me better manage transitions like moving countries for university.

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Laura: Thank you for sharing that. It sounds like you feel academically prepared, but everyday life challenges are where you’d like to build more resilience. Stepan, do you relate to that?

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Stepan: I agree that Cambridge gives us strong scientific foundations. But school can’t teach everything. Immigration taught me adaptability—learning a new language, managing adult responsibilities, and adjusting quickly. After experiences like that, you realise how important flexibility is.

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Laura: That journey really highlights how adaptability prepares you for the future. You both mentioned skills like communication and self-management. Which skills do you think will be most important for your future? Nadine?

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Nadine: For medicine, self-management is the most important skill. Managing schedules, avoiding burnout, thinking critically, and staying calm under pressure are essential. Teamwork and communication are also vital when working with patients and other medical professionals.

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Laura: I like how you described self-management as the foundation for other skills. Stepan, what about you?

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Stepan: Critical thinking is essential. Many people stay in comfortable bubbles and don’t reassess their beliefs. Listening to people you disagree with helps build understanding. Mental health education is also crucial, as many issues could be prevented through awareness and balance.

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Laura: Those skills are important for personal wellbeing and society. Do you feel you’re developing these skills through your Cambridge International A Levels? Nadine?

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Nadine: Some skills are developed more than others. Teamwork has mainly come from Model United Nations. Communication and self-management have improved through A Levels, especially managing exams, schedules, and developing deeper thinking skills.

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Laura: You mentioned Model United Nations—was that what you were referring to?

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Nadine: Yes, that’s right. I attend quite a lot of conferences.

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Laura: Stepan, which skills do you think you’re developing through your A Levels?

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Stepan: Critical thinking is developed through science subjects, especially biology. Global Perspectives helped me learn to explore multiple viewpoints and conduct structured research, which I found valuable.

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Laura: We have time for one final question. How prepared do you feel for the future? Stepan?

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Stepan: It’s hard to predict the future, but I’d say I feel about 70 to 90 percent prepared.

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Laura: Nadine?

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Nadine: I’ve wanted to go to university since I was very young, so I feel prepared. And if not, we’ll fake it until we make it.

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Laura: Nadine and Stepan, thank you for being such wonderful guests. Thank you to our listeners as well. Don’t forget to rate the show, check the show notes, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram at CambridgeINT. Thanks for listening.