Students engaged in online learning may become familiar with online and digital tools but the ability to adapt will remain key
Irish colleges and universities have begun to focus on increasing the level of proficiency of tech and digital skills within its programmes to adequately prepare students for entering the workforce.
“So a lot of the digital capabilities we’re trying to develop in our students are around that ability to adapt, being able to assess an app or a piece of software, being able to evaluate it for what it is, being able to compare and contrast it with other apps and programmes that do the same thing. Dr Kevin Marshall, head of education at Microsoft Ireland, said the core skills of communication, teamwork and collaboration were critical to entering the company, while there is an expectation that most graduates would be “reasonably proficient” in terms of tech and IT skills.
“If you look at computer science and engineering, they would be heavy on the data side and the computer literacy stuff. I think other more traditional courses like history and arts are now moving to that. I suppose the experience of Covid has accelerated the infusion of technology and digital skills within our ecosystem, because we’ve all had to learn it.
“The uses of data, from the simple production of a histogram and the central theorems and all that sort of stuff . . . I think that’s an area that is in the curriculum now at third level over the last number of years,” he said. “From a career development perspective, the way in which you put your personal brand out there and the way in which you network and connect over the internet . . . that can be pivotal in getting an opportunity or not getting an opportunity,” he said.
Tony Moroney, programme director for the digital leadership, digital transformation and cybersecurity programmes at the Irish Management Institute, said Ireland had become a “hub for global and fast-growing tech businesses” due to the large number of global tech companies located here. Mr Moroney said organisations are making great efforts to become “digital data-driven enterprises” with roles such as cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud and edge computing, software development, coding and robotics all in demand.
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