FEB 21- Highway DBN

What to study now?
Nothing in life stays the same, especially for education in a world with lockdowns and
remote working and learning. Everything is changing quickly and it’s imperative that
we equip our children for this new, online world.
While we may have heard about
the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’
(the automation of traditional
manufacturing and industrial
practices using modern smart
technology) before Covid-19,
the onset of the pandemic has
accelerated the move towards
business being conducted online.
Education expert and head of
faculty at the Independent Institute
of Education, Nola Payne, says that
careers of the future will increasingly
require people qualified in fields
involving the cloud, internet of things,
big data, cyber security, artificial
intelligence, machine learning and
augmented reality. “Students would
do well to investigate and consider
careers where qualified professionals
are likely to remain in high demand
in coming decades.” Here are some of
her suggestions for the most popular
fields of study:
MOBILE APP DEVELOPER/ WEB
DEVELOPER
These jobs often go hand-in-hand.
Mobile app development is one of
the fastest growing disciplines. There
is a big skills gap in this area, so there
are many opportunities, and it is
also a good fit for those interested
in becoming entrepreneurs. On the
web development side, the increase
in social media advertising has
increased demand. Most companies
today invest in e-commerce solutions,
while all companies regardless of size
should have their own website.
SOFTWARE ENGINEERS AND DATA-
BASE ADMINISTRATORS
Both are existing careers, but are
constantly evolving for operation
in the cloud and on digital devices.
There is also growing demand for
improved security, with databases and
application systems shielded from
attack while being properly managed
and networked.
46 Get It • Highway • Berea • Durban North February 2021