Lack of IT education endangers Switzerland as a location for innovation

The fact that there is a shortage of workers in the so-called STEM professions (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences, technology) is not new. However, the extent of the problem is. According to the 2018 study [1] conducted by Adecco together with the University of Zurich (UZH), the overall shortage of skilled workers in Switzerland increased by 8 percent compared to the previous year. In particular, in the areas of management and organization, the shortage of skilled workers increased by a whopping 25 percent. Similarly, according to a study by the World Economic Forum on the future of work, two-thirds of elementary school students will be working in a profession that doesn't even exist yet. Automation will cause professions such as radiologist or bank consultant to largely disappear. IT specialists, on the other hand, will continue to be in demand. IT has found its way into almost every workplace, and the demands placed on IT specialists are rising continuously. Digitization is changing the world of work at a pace and with a dynamism that can only be mastered with people who have the necessary expertise.

Investing in IT education

Yet, as written, there is already a shortage of thousands of computer scientists. A shortage that is hampering the growth of entire industries and putting Switzerland, Austria and Germany in a tight spot as innovation locations. That's why it's imperative to do more for the digital education of young people. It will determine what happens to the locations of companies in the DACH region.

The most important thing would be to adapt the education system quickly and efficiently to meet future conditions. This starts with the equipment in the schools. Every secondary school needs a fiber-optic connection and modern technical equipment in sufficient quantities. In addition, an appropriate curriculum must be created.

We need subjects like programming as mandatory courses in school, like a second foreign language. Media literacy, critical handling of information and data, security on the Net, and knowledge of technology, coding and problem solving - in other words, everything that relates to the topic of "digitization" would have to be removed from computer science classes and integrated into all subjects. In history classes, for example, it is important to talk about cryptography and the effects of machine data processing in the Second World War. This is the only way to get an awareness of what can be done with data. Students need to learn how complex processes consist only of zeros and ones, how messages can get from A to B in a matter of seconds, and how social networks remember incredible amounts of data.

Cooperation models necessary

But not every school has the staff to offer IT courses or focus more on digitization in the subjects. That's why we need to develop cooperation models between schools, companies and associations such as the Deutschsprachige SAP-Anwendergruppe e. V. (DSAG) and offer courses from the cloud, for example, for all interested students. No one with an interest in the subject should fail due to a lack of access to knowledge.

Improved knowledge transfer will not only lead to more young people becoming interested in IT. It will also reduce dropouts. This is because a lack of information or false expectations are often the reason why potential young IT professionals drop out early, even though future-proof, interesting and well-paid jobs are waiting in the wings. Companies that work with SAP and want to attract young talent should therefore ensure, for example, that young people know what to expect. This is also a matter of breaking down prejudices to a certain extent. In terms of its IT architecture, SAP is no longer a largely self-contained ABAP world in which companies have raised their young IT talent. Since SAP has opened up the Java world and the cloud, the competition with the large and innovative app developers has opened up. SAP, too, has entered the hip app development arena. Away from the classic, usually lengthy development cycles of a solution, towards agile development with short steps and quickly realizable successes. But only very few of the upcoming IT specialists are familiar with this facet.

[1] http://adeccogroup.ch/de/studien/fachkraeftemangel-index-schweiz/fachkraeftemangel-index-2018/

Author:
Ralf Peters is the Executive Board Member for Application Portfolio, Deutschsprachige SAP-Anwendergruppe e. V. (DSAG)