Education spotlight
current education system risks sending its students into an uphill battle when it comes to their careers.
Diversity is key It’s also no secret that the tech industry has a serious diversity problem. STAT. Representation within industry is essential - if we can’t get different people through the door of the industry, we can’t expect a change in results. For instance, we need to encourage more women to take STEM subjects at a sixth-form level, in order to encourage them to pursue STEM careers in the long-term. A big part of doing this will be encouraging students to seek out industry aligned certifications and apprenticeships. At the same time, employers must be incentivised to actively seek out apprentices in their hiring practices. Encouraging employers to hire a more diverse range of candidates with different backgrounds and qualifications means that industry representation can grow, bringing new talent and expertise through the doors in the process. For example, one organisation taking great strides towards
boosting accessibility and closing the socio-economic divide in the tech sector is UA92. Te Manchester-based higher education institution’s ‘Make It For Real’ initiative provides students with a free laptop and daily lunch (among further benefits) to encourage those from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue their pursuit of a top-quality education. In the same way as diversity, inclusivity must be at the forefront
of recruitment, outreach and engagement strategies if we want to inspire the next generation of tech trainers and create a ‘virtuous cycle’ of education. Tis would allow the industry to continuously promote and encourage beneficial practices as they become more prevalent. Much of the time, doing this is simply a case of knowing what’s
out there - as the saying goes, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’. Many young students are aware of career options like doctor or
lawyer, but too oſten they are not as aware of the technology roles available to them, let alone how future-proofed and lucrative these careers can prove to be. To inspire the next generation of quality technical trainers, we need to communicate that the options available to everyone. Technical know-how is only valuable if knowledge is shared widely, and practical skills can be reproduced. Tis means welcoming everyone and taking a unified approach. Terefore, government and industry must work together on a single strategy with one voice - one that prioritises the capability to present and translate information. We also need to make huge progress on training diversity,
and fast. For example, take a look at coding courses. Tese are disproportionately emphasised and are oſten seen as a one- stop shop over other pressing issues like governance, risk and compliance. Although these considerations carry far greater significance than coding in most real-life professional scenarios, they are not yet being prioritised sufficiently, something that needs to change. Collaboration is essential to usher in the new generation of
young learners and teachers Te tech industry needs some new talent to take it into the
future. We need to incentivise and encourage young people to explore tech roles and careers. To encourage more people to consider careers in technology - and foster the next generation of high-quality tech trainers in the process - the education ecosystem needs to take a collective, holistic approach to training and teaching. Increasing funding is a start, but what is actually required is a change in mindset. Tis new mindset needs to align content to the needs of industry and place CPD, communication, diversity and inclusion at its core. If this article has provoked any thoughts about how to align the
education system and employers’ hiring needs, please share them with CompTIA by sending an email to
info_uk@comptia.org.
www.pcr-online.biz
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