Is your company ready to meet the in-demand skills of the future? The ability to pre-empt and plan for these in-demand skills today could make or break many companies tomorrow and beyond. As our world of work changes with increasingly rapidity, many organisations are ill-equipped with the skills they’ll need for the future – or how to capture these in a market with drastic skill shortages.
What skills do you need to plan for? While some skillsets vary across industry, there are many apparent skills that are, and will be needed, across the board.
Technology and innovation is already outpacing workforce capability. This means current skills gaps are appearing – and growing - in data and analytics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, software and systems development, change management and innovation in all industries.
Some skills gaps are not so obvious. According to the World Economic Forum, it’s not just technical skills that will be in high demand in the future. Skills in creativity, emotional intelligence and critical thinking – among others – may be valued even higher by employers than technical skills.
At UTS we are working hard to help address these skills gaps so organisations, and individuals, can obtain these skills with speed. Our strong reputation in technology is complemented by expertise in other high-demand areas, including creativity, emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills.
Megaproject management skills gap
The art of running megaprojects - loosely defined as any complex infrastructure project with a budget exceeding US$1billion - is one skills gap UTS has sought to fill. New course, Infrastructure Delivery: Time for a Reset has hit such a nerve it’s “taken off”, according to course coordinator Shankar Sankaran, Professor of Organisational Project Management in the School of the Built Environment.
“With cost blowouts the norm, disputes all too easy to fall into and cost analyses that often don’t take into account the environmental or social costs, megaprojects is an area ripe for reform worldwide,” Sankaran explains.
The wildly successful short course addresses the biggest challenges facing those responsible for megaproject delivery by considering the different perspectives of all stakeholders across the entire lifecycle of a megaproject.
“We know there is a tremendous skills shortage in megaproject management, infrastructure and construction. Looking to the future, we are also focused on enhancing the industry by researching and addressing emerging gaps,” he continues.
Courses in development include contractual issues in project management as well as ‘hidden innovation’ in the construction industry.
Data science skills gap
The current skills gap in data science is well-recognised and rapidly growing.
“Until around 2014, the [data science] skillset really only applied to a tiny number of jobs. Since then, demand has exploded across so many industries. It’s been phenomenal to watch,” says Dr Martin Bell, astrophysicist and lecturer at UTS.
Bell says UTS has been working with many clients to help them upskill, including a fast-paced tailored program in data capability for more than 1,000 Telstra employees across six countries. UTS is also committed to training individuals, with its suite of short courses and microcredentials steadily growing to meet demand.
“Our data science offerings range from simple data literacy to advanced mathematics and statistics. These offerings can fill a basic need very quickly, but we are often called on to create something completely new. Employees might need to learn a new algorithm or some new programming language that has just been released. There’s a lot of flexibility,” he says.
Lifetime of learning
With the average person now changing careers three or four times, Bell says UTS is teaching students throughout their lifetime. “We want UTS to be the first place they think of when it comes to reskilling or upskilling,” Bell continues.
“We’re agile, great at listening and deliver high-quality products that are helping Australian businesses thrive in these challenging times. It’s gratifying to know we have the cutting-edge knowledge and skills to help companies succeed.”
Work with us
We partner with businesses, governments and community organisations to design and deliver tailored learning programs aligned with your organisation’s strategy. Our programs are delivered quickly and flexibly so your people are equipped to have an impact now and be ready for the future. Learn more
