Career Agility for Future Employees. An Innovative BE(A)ST Framework for the Digital Era

• Published in: Journal of Modern Science Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 778 - 798
• Main Authors: Wójcik, Joanna Katarzyna, Świętoniowska, Joanna, Jakieła, Jacek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Akademia Nauk Stosowanych WSGE im. A. De Gasperi w Józefowie 01.07.2025
• Subjects: agile career development; be(a)st framework; career agility; design thinking in education; dylmic project; vuca environment
• ISSN: 1734-2031; 2391-789X; 2391-789X
• DOI: 10.13166/jms/207583

Objectives The primary objective of this study is to present the BE(A)ST framework – an innovative, agile approach to career development that reimagines future employees as adaptive, self-driven professionals navigating their paths through experimentation, iteration, and self-discovery. The framework supports learners in aligning personal development with VUCA-driven market realities by treating careers as evolving prototypes. Material and methods The study employs a mixed-methods design within a Design Thinking framework. It begins with persona development based on interviews and focus groups, followed by validation through a cross-national survey. Collaborative workshops were used to identify tools matched to stakeholder needs, leading to the creation of the Student Purposeful Development Toolbox. Results The research identified three core competencies of career agility: technological adaptability, agile learning, and proactive career navigation. Qualitative insights from workshops led to the design of actionable tools fostering career self-awareness, iterative planning, and professional identity-building. These results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of embedding agile career support in higher education contexts. Conclusions The BE(A)ST framework offers a robust and innovative response to career development challenges in a volatile and uncertain world. It reframes career planning as an iterative, user-centered process of exploration and adaptation. The Student Purposeful Development Toolbox, co-designed with users, provides a practical means of cultivating career agility. The study calls for the integration of agile, design-based career support practices into educational systems to enhance learner autonomy, motivation, and long-term employability.