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Digital skills must go hand-in-hand with human skills

May 2021

While developing digital skills is important, the rise of artificial intelligence will only increase the value of human skills such as collaboration and innovation - universities need to instil both in their students to prepare them for the future of work, writes Mark Lester

As the UK government looks to rebound and seek out ways to drive the post-pandemic economic recovery, there is a huge concern that a growing gap in digital skills will hamper any chance of a strong bounce back in the next few years.1

Most employers look to universities to supply the digital talent they need and continue to value a university degree as a signal of higher-order intellectual skills, particularly for entry-level roles. However, many talent leaders now feel that universities are not developing the breadth of skills for students to thrive in the 21st century economy, an issue compounded by the failure of the secondary education system to inspire and nurture youth for the future of work.

Data analytics, cybersecurity and programming skills are the top skills identified as a priority in the next 12 months.

We recently surveyed a wide range of HR leaders currently recruiting for digital positions in the UK and found that data analytics, cybersecurity and programming skills were the top skills identified as a priority in the next 12 months. However, our research also revealed that 88% of companies surveyed do not have faith in the existing education provision to close the digital skills gap, while more than 50% stated it is difficult or very difficult to find good candidates for entry-level roles. Consequently, 81% of UK businesses think they will need to recruit outside of the UK in the next 12 months, while over half of UK businesses are concerned about missing out on key strategic deliverables due to a lack of digital skills.  

Most respondents believe that there needs to be further investment in the secondary school system to address the long-term skills deficit. However, universities also came in for criticism. While employers believe that universities develop highly valued critical thinking skills, they are seen to be failing to develop other human skills required to make people and businesses competitive in the digital economy. For example, collaboration was recorded as the highest-ranking skill needed (92%) and yet only 8% of recruiters felt that universities instilled this in candidates. Further, candidates with the ability to be innovative (79%) were also highly prized by employers, but only 20% of recruiters felt that universities cultivated this attribute in candidates.

As artificial intelligence redefines the division of labour between machines and humans, helping businesses find ways to remove repetitive tasks, employees will have to double down on human skills such as problem-solving and emotional intelligence, as well as learn to reinvent themselves for multiple careers across their lifetimes. If universities do not prepare their students for this new reality and adapt their curriculum to a rapidly evolving future of work, then they run the risk of being less relevant for a growing proportion of future students. This reality is reflected in our survey, which indicated that for many high demand digital roles a university degree is no longer a requirement to secure employment. 

Although alternative providers of education have emerged to address the gaps, the quality and rigour of university education is still preferred by employers.

Fortunately, universities can address these shortcomings. Although alternative providers of education have emerged to address the gaps, the quality and rigour of university education is still preferred by employers. Universities can get on the front foot by recognising their role in delivering education for adult learners, and begin to adapt their programmes to integrate industry expertise and enterprise technologies within their qualifications. This approach would be compelling to employers, as 62% of the HR leaders in our survey called for a combination of academic qualifications and high order capabilities with the employability afforded by practical work portfolios and technical skills.

The development of strategic industry partnerships will be essential to achieving this and re-asserting higher education's central role in addressing the digital skills gaps. Careers officers have a valuable role to play here in bringing the voice of the employers into the university, so they can start to build a pipeline of talent that meets the rising demands and needs of industry. 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Prospects/Jisc.

Notes

  1. UK's digital skills gap poses risk to economic recovery, research reveals, Microsoft News Centre UK, 2020.

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