industryopinion
A digital education is needed for the digital age
Konrad Weiske, Vice-President of SoDA and CEO of Spyrosoft, explores the importance of
providing a digital education in schools, and how this can be done in a way that empowers young people and career changers to make the most of opportunities in the digital age.
I
n the age of the fourth industrial revolution, digital transformation, and web 3.0, it’s vital that young people have access to a ‘digital’ education to give them the right skills for
the job market. From data management to complex skills like coding, placing more emphasis on teaching children these disciplines will be instrumental in closing the skills gap, filling job roles, and helping the sector generate billions for the economy. While there are many experts currently
working within these sectors, the rate of adoption of technology and IT solutions in the workplace creates unprecedented demand for new skills. This is in part a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the rate at which companies have adopted new technologies and ways of working. This trend shows no signs of slowing down – so the talent pool must keep up. However, many academic programmes don’t
apprenticeships and upskilling their workforce to generate a pipeline of skilled workers to plug the gap as quickly as possible.
“In the age of
the fourth industrial revolution, digital
transformation, and web 3.0, it’s vital that young people have access to a ‘digital’
education to give them the right skills for the job market. ”
currently fully reflect the needs of the job market or its trajectory, while graduates are leaving university without the opportunity for further training.
A bright outlook for digital experts There are plenty of reasons to believe that IT and technology skills will continue to play an integral role in shaping our lives well into the future. According to GlobalData’s Job Analytics database, hiring for IT has grown 4.3% in Poland alone month on month from April to May 2022. While according to SoDA’s recent report, Covid-19 impact on
the software house industry in Poland, 70% of Polish software development companies have a strong positive outlook towards the future. This may be reflective of the growth and high profits enjoyed by Polish companies. This is indicative of how well Poland is doing to nurture tech talent and bring people into the workforce. The more companies experience further growth and profitability,
the more experts they need to on-board. Hiring new entry-level and junior-level developers, testers and supporting staff will support this in the short term, while some businesses are introducing
12 | August 2022
Building skills with a digital education To fully harness the potential of prospective IT and tech employees, and support ‘quick fix’ initiatives, a digital education at school level is essential. Just as mathematics, language and physical education are integral to the curriculum, there is a need for comprehensive IT and technology courses to be considered in the same way. A digital education should be
accessible to everyone in the same way that traditional subjects are. This means ensuring that children can use a computer, laptop, or tablet with a stable WiFi
connection and have the software and tools they need, in conjunction with guidance from teachers and professionals, to maximise their
learning experience. Crucially, learning digital skills should be interesting and engaging, particularly at school age. If children don’t
make the connection between learning computer skills and the range
of interesting and crucial uses that they have, it can be a challenge. This is where education professionals and industry experts can step
in to guide young people, to ensure that digital skills are being taught in a way that gives children the opportunity to find a new interest – and potentially, a future career.
The here and now For school children learning digital skills now, they still have several years of education to undertake before they are ready to enter the workforce. So, for now, Polish IT and technology companies are stepping up to provide internships and training for young people interested in becoming developers, to supplement their education. It’s the role of educators and industry experts to lead the charge in
encouraging young people to not only undertake a digital education but enjoy it. Businesses in the IT sector should also use their resources to help young people secure jobs and training, so that we together can maximise our potential in a digital age.
www.pcr-online.biz
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