The Impact of Digitization in the Workplace

The proliferation of technological advancements and digitization have impacted our lives hugely. We are in an era where there has been a major revolution from how we run businesses to how we communicate or pass information across. The impacts of digitization are also visible in the field of education and the shifting trend in education is rapidly impacting on workplace skills and industry needs.

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Losing Jobs to Automation

According to a report by McKinsey Global Institute (2017), by 2030 we will lose millions of jobs to automation. “Skill shifts have accompanied the introduction of new technologies in the workplace since at least the Industrial Revolution, but the adoption of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will mark an acceleration over the shifts of even the recent past.” These changes will require youths and workers everywhere to deepen their existing skill sets or acquire new ones.

However, there is a gap in the educational system as it stands today and what the future of jobs and required skills would be tomorrow. In Nigeria, that gap is even more pronounced, we have a dearth of basic skills, basic critical thinking and problem-solving. In developing countries or low to middle-income countries, there is a potential to leave from the traditional education system and immediately develop a system that we need tomorrow. An example has been seen in India where there is a proliferation of E-learning that is transforming the face of education in India. The impacts of digitization have effected major changes in how education in medicine, engineering, art, Et cetera is being imparted and consumed.

Another example is in Germany where they do a lot more vocational training, instead of attending a formal institution. “The vocational education and training system in Germany often referred to as the ‘dual system’, is frequently regarded as a ‘model’ system, which might be used as an example to redress skills shortages in education programs and to improve economic performance.” These examples demonstrate the impact of digitization in education and how that affects workplace skills.

Further, a plethora of IT related platforms that has been launched is generating huge entrepreneurship opportunities and many education startups have sprung up with new and improved versions of e-learning modules in line with the demands and ever-changing needs of the students. I believe that through Accelerated and experiential Learning Programs (ALPs) the employability of graduating students will distinctly improve; consequently making them ready for speedy absorption in Business and Industry.