Focusing On Information Technology In Education Today
Technological advancement has been a constant over the past 2 decades and this trend shows no signs of abating anytime soon. Blockchain technology’s rise to prominence is a clear sign of the times and cryptocurrencies aside, the use of blockchain technology across the board is set to have a tremendous social impact from here on out. Seeing this, it is imperative that educators and institutions everywhere recognise the need to prepare the future workforce for this new normal and respond expediently. Here are several other reasons why mastery of the technologies of the future makes you a game changer:
IT is permeating every aspect of business
Technological disruption is changing the face of businesses across all sectors in an unprecedented way and those who cannot keep pace will eventually be left behind. Keeping pace means to stay relevant, and this starts with educational institutions, which are in the perfect position to prime the future workforce for a sustainable career. Likewise, individuals who are starting out on their journey through higher education would do well to select courses on various disruptive technologies of Industry 4.0 such as data science, blockchain technology, Internet of Things, cybersecurity and cloud computing. The huge role technology plays in our everyday lives has effectively ensured that the current and future workforce can no longer afford to maintain its status quo.
The abundance of data will fuel the need for IT-competent analysts
We live in the age where data is available at just a click of the mouse, turning up millions of links for our perusal. But such copious amounts of data is of no use to anyone unless it is mined for information and knowledge that can be used to produce better business outcomes. This is where a strong grasp of data science comes in handy. Knowledge of programming languages and mining software places you at a great advantage. Together with an analytical mind, your skills in big data analytics will help your business grow revenue, boost productivity, understand and predict customer needs, and create new business opportunities.
Future skills will be geared towards close human-machine interactions
Artificial intelligence has been gaining ground over the past decade and today, we have driverless cars on the road and biometric systems on smartphones to improve our daily lives. The increasingly close relationship between man and machine necessitates a solid understanding of technology on our part to take advantage of the benefits that artificial intelligence can bring to our lives. And to do that, early exposure to Industry 4.0 technologies at higher-education level is a must. Understanding the inner workings of technology also removes the element of competition between man and machine when it comes to jobs. Rather, technology is used to complement the workforce, aiding in repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
Tech-savviness determines the security of your future
Technology helps us in our daily lives but it also has the ability to displace us. With workplace tasks being increasingly automated and carried out by machines that are impartial to dirty and dangerous work, being replaced by machines is a very real possibility. According to McKinsey Global Institute’s latest report, Jobs lost, jobs gained: Workforce transitions in a time of automation, between 0% to 30% of the hours worked globally could be automated by 2030, depending on the speed of adoption. Businesses of the future will make use technology, soft skills and intellectual property – rather than human effort and physical assets – to generate value, and having technological knowledge that is in demand will largely determine your employ ability.
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