The first issue of the #TechSkills #Magazine is now published and I’m happy to share that in this issue, I was interviewed to share my insights on Bridging the #Digital Skills Gap in #Technology and #Sustainability.
This article is a great piece including broad selection of insight from three contributors - Piyali Sen (The UK and Ireland Head of Sustainability and ESG Business at Tata Consultancy Services), Eric Zie (The Founder and CEO of GoCodeGreen | B Corp™), and myself.
In this interview, I mentioned that at University of East London, we prepare students for careers in sectors as diverse as energy efficiency and #renewable_energy, the circular economy, #smart_cities, and #manufacturing. That requires skills like data scientists and analysts, #IoT specialists, and #AI and #machine_learning experts, through renewable energy and environment engineers, sustainable product designers, and #cyber_security.
I also discussed that recruiting for and filling these positions presents challenges both in upskilling those already in existing roles and providing relevant and future-facing learning pathways to mitigate the UK’s digital skills gap.
Moreover, I mentioned that there is a shortage of professionals with the advanced technical skills required to develop and implement #sustainable technologies, and a gap in people that can seamlessly integrate knowledge across disciplines. The ability to innovate and drive new solutions is also crucial, which needs a pipeline of talent able to take theoretical knowledge and apply it practically to create impactful, scalable solutions.
In addition, I explained that thankfully there is no lack of passion or ambition for the subject. We see growing interest among our students for building skills related to sustainability and technology, and it’s driven by a combination of personal values, career aspirations, and a strong desire to make a positive impact on the world. They’re seeking purpose-driven work that aligns with their values and are increasingly aware of the pressing environmental issues we face – importantly, they also understand the critical connection between technological progress and sustainability.
Finally, I discussed that bridging the skills gap in technology and sustainability requires a multifaceted approach involving enhanced educational programs, strong industry-academia #partnerships, continuous professional development, #government and #policy support, increased #awareness and engagement, and a focus on developing soft skills and professional competencies. I pointed out that by implementing these steps, we can ensure that students and professionals are well-equipped to contribute to a more sustainable future.
I strongly believe that together, we can build a more sustainable future through technology.
Special thanks to Ian Bolton from TechSkills.org for inviting me for this interview.
TechSkills.org
University of East London
UEL School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering
