Empowering Tomorrow’s Workforce: Bridging the Digital Skills Gap through Higher Education and Vocational Training

Despite the analysis that highlights the fact that AI skills has improved significantly over the past 5 years the evidence continues to indicate a significant and strong demand for talent with advanced digital skills capacities in data and AI that will continue to grow over the decade to 2030. There are differing views on the exact impact that new data-driven technology and automation will have on jobs and employment.

We are facing a double side reality: shorter-term action of up-skilling and re-skilling are needed at the same time that longer-term graduates are required.   While one can see a high number of HEI programmes (bachelor and masters) to respond to the demand, the situation differs when one analyses Vocational Education Training (VET) courses. One of the main challenges we are facing is the cultural transformation: there is a need of continuous development. Non-degree credentials are growing in popularity. While degrees will remain as an important role in skill development, there is a need to urgently reflect in Universities and incorporate methodologies and training models that incorporate public-private initiatives with a vision of market problems.

Digital skills are practical skills and the development of apprenticeships and other VET approaches provide mechanisms for talent to access new skills and career opportunities. This is especially relevant for technicians and also the recruitment of persons from lower socioeconomic or disadvantaged backgrounds.

In this session we will concentrate on VET and will analyze some success stories of VET initiatives. The main outcome of the session will be to learn from success stories to help filling the gap between demand and offer in Advanced Digital Skills.

Sessions’ presentation here