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As businesses navigate the demands of an increasingly digital world, the demand for professionals skilled in various facets of technology continues to rise. From small startups to multinational corporations, the ability to make the best use of technological advancements is crucial in order to stay competitive. Consequently, there's a pressing need for ongoing professional development that can equip the workforce with the necessary skills to adapt and thrive amidst technological disruptions.
In this article, we delve into the technology and IT skills that are critical in driving business success and discuss how higher education institutions can support both individuals and organisations in developing these vital skill sets.
Data Literacy
Data should be at the core of every organisation’s success in driving decision-making and informing strategy development. For businesses to get the most value from their data, they require individuals who are data literate and can interpret effectively what picture the data is painting. Data literacy encompasses the ability to interpret, analyse, and derive meaningful insights from data sets. In a business context, these skills empower employees to make more informed decisions, identify trends, uncover opportunities for innovation and truly make data “actionable”.
Higher education plays a significant role here by nurturing data literacy among professionals. Since data analysis is an increasingly essential component of business success, there is an opportunity for higher education organisations to create tailored courses and training programs to empower individuals with data visualisation techniques, statistical analysis, and data interpretation methodologies.
Cybersecurity
The proliferation of digital technologies has revolutionised the way businesses operate, but it has also introduced new challenges, especially in the realm of cybersecurity. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, it is essential for organisations to prioritise cybersecurity measures that safeguard sensitive data, protect intellectual property, and uphold customer trust.
Effective cybersecurity policy does not simply include technical solutions; it requires the whole of an organisation’s workforce to be equipped with the right information and skills to identify, respond to, and mitigate threats.
Higher education can help organisations bridge this knowledge gap by offering custom cybersecurity training programs in areas such as network security, threat detection, incident response, and compliance with regulatory standards. In fact, many higher education institutions are starting to offer programs dedicated to cybersecurity in greater frequency.
With organisations eager to avoid becoming the next headline along the lines of the well-documented Optus or Medibank breaches, higher education organisations are well-positioned to help their clients remain safe and cyber-secure. Here, the potential addressable market for such training is significant, as are the benefits of such training for participants.
Ethics for Technology
Technology has become more entwined into the fabric of daily life than ever before. This means new risks are emerging, impacting issues such as privacy, bias, transparency, and accountability. With the rise of technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, it becomes increasingly important for individuals to possess a nuanced understanding of the ethical implications of their actions and of the ways in which they are utilising technology.
Awareness and action around the ethics of technology are growing rapidly, and higher education organisations can take a key role in helping to develop and support the frameworks that can guide ethical decision-making around these developing technologies. This enables individuals to navigate ethical challenges effectively while leveraging the full potential of technology for a positive impact.
For businesses to reap the benefits of technological change, it is essential that they invest in their workforce's continuous professional development. Higher education institutions have both the opportunity and the responsibility to provide the training that will equip businesses, and their staff, with the skills to operate in a way that is not only competitive but also ethical and sustainable.