1 The millennial generation: generation y and the opportunities for a globalised, networked educational system Elisabeth Kelan and Michael Lehnert Education Department, University of Bath February 2009 Abstract The paper explores the changing educational needs and expectations of Generation Y, people born roughly between 1977 and 2000. The first part of the paper reviews existing research on Generation Y and examines some of the challenges Generation Y faces in education and the workplace. The second part then takes a look at how educational challenges for Generation Y can be met by exploring good practices. The paper highlights that technical, economic and social changes lead to different demands on the education system which have to be met in order to create a competitive and sustainable educational system for the 21st century. Keywords: work, education, generations, economics, society, technology, social change, personal development Introduction This paper explores a range of possible educational needs that Generation Y or Millennials, those born in between the late 1970s and 2000 1 , will require in the context of a rapidly changing economy and society. Generation Y is a prime example of how changes in the economic mode of production are intertwined with changes in technology, society and education, in that Generation Y demand different styles of teaching and learning. The first half of the paper outlines the educational and workplace experiences and expectations of Generation Y. It highlights how the first "global net generation" has experienced education and how it is said to unsettle workplace practices. The second half 1 This paper draws on research on Generation Y, which is sponsored by the London Business School Research Consortium on Generation Y. Its founding sponsor is Accenture and other sponsors are Allen & Overy, Barclaycard, Baxter International, Cargill, IBM, KPMG and Johnson & Johnson. We thank all donors for their generous support of this research study.