How to prepare for the digital age – The Irish Times

Industry 4.0 (or as it came to be known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution) has the potential to change the social landscape as we know it.

Integrate advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced automation to create more advanced interconnected manufacturing and production systems designed to improve productivity and efficiency. It is characterized by creating

According to Professor Graham Heaslip, Head of Engineering at ATU Galway-Mayo, the process of change is already well underway.

“As engineers deal with real-world scenarios, their role is constantly evolving to meet the needs of a changing society and environment.” Thanks to Industry 4.0, engineering is moving into a “new technological renaissance.” We are doing it,” says Heaslip.

“Ingenuity, an ever-growing knowledge base, and engineers who harness their creativity will be key to meeting the challenges at hand,” he continues.

“Engineering is advancing faster than ever with the rise of powerful technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing and the Internet of Things.

“Familiarity with these technologies is important for future engineering applications, but it is the evolutionary process itself that truly shapes and defines the profession.”

So what does all of this mean for the future job market? In 2017, researchers at the University of Oxford published a study on future jobs and the susceptibility of jobs to automation.

They conclude:

Researchers also calculated how susceptible jobs are to automation based on nine key skills needed to perform automation. They are social perception, negotiation, persuasion, helping and caring for others, originality, fine arts, finger dexterity, manual dexterity, and the need to work in a work environment. narrow working space.

[ AI could be the next industrial revolution – but what risks does it bring? ]

A recent study released by the McKinsey Global Institute reports that nearly one-fifth of the global workforce will be impacted by the adoption of AI and automation, with developed countries such as the UK, Germany and the US most affected. It has been.

A World Economic Forum report found that 38% of businesses believe AI and automation technologies will enable employees to perform new, more productive tasks.

A further 25% believe automation will create new roles. The Economist predicts that 50% of jobs are vulnerable to automation.

So which jobs are more likely to be automated? I should ask.

“Artists, designers, engineers, and other roles that require employees to think on their feet and come up with creative, original ideas have great advantages in the face of automation,” he says.

“This means that occupations that require high levels of social intelligence, bargaining skills, awareness of cultural sensitivities, consideration for others, creative or complex reasoning, or perception and manipulation are less likely to be automated. increase.

“So medical professionals, social workers, nurses, psychologists, engineers, teachers, and writers can rest assured that robots won’t replace them anytime soon.

“In contrast, certain sales positions, such as telemarketers and bankers, which may involve interactive tasks, remain open to automation even if they don’t necessarily require a high degree of social intelligence. .”

He says anyone questioning this “rise of the machine” need only look at Ireland’s banking sector, where the role of humans has been greatly reduced.

Laoise Mullane, Director of People and Organizational Consulting at PwC, said emerging technologies are now being adopted by manufacturers around the world to help transform productivity, flexibility, ESG and cost effectiveness. I’m here.

“Technology unlocks new value from operational data, much of which has been collected for years but underutilized,” she says. “In particular, data analytics capabilities are being developed that will allow us to manage our operations in a predictive way.

“This provides an exciting opportunity for our employees and future graduates to deploy new skills in some of our most sophisticated manufacturing facilities.”

On the future of work, Mullane said the widespread availability of these new technologies is an “exciting time” because of the “transformative” impact they have on businesses. .

“As the technology we use to do our jobs changes, so does the competencies employees need to effectively fill their roles,” she says. “As a result, organizations must focus on upskilling their employees to use these new technologies.

“By harnessing the power of AI, companies can automate repetitive tasks and free up employees for higher-value tasks. We can also enable them to explore opportunities to implement AI throughout.”

Dr Rajesh Jaiswal, a lecturer at the Dublin Institute of Technology who teaches an MSc in Computing in Human-Centered AI, says AI is replacing human decision-making processes in areas such as recruitment and loan approval. pointing out.

“Dublin Institute of Technology teaches students to consider the ethical implications of these technologies because we believe they are best prepared for the digital age,” he says. “Enabling our students to design AI through a human-centered lens is paramount.

“The Dublin Institute of Technology offers a Level 9 Human-Centered AI Master Course at its Tallagh Campus and online.

“It is funded by the European Union’s European Connection Facility, allowing students to travel and interact with European experts to discuss dissertation project ideas with real-world applications from industry and research institutes. can.

“The course focuses on transparency, trustworthiness and explainability in AI decision-making because important decisions must be fair and explainable.

“The program focuses on using technology to provide ethical solutions to problems, and the curriculum takes a human-centered approach, taking into account the impact of technology on human rights from the start. doing.

“This course covers the entire AI lifecycle, including training the system, system development, and the data used to maintain accuracy in real-world situations.

It also provides graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop, implement, and manage AI applications that meet the ethical standards required by upcoming EU legislation. ”

Dr. Therese Hume, Lecturer in ATU’s Department of Computing and Electronics, says manufacturing is a market leader in pioneering ways to harness the potential of emerging technologies.

[ AI will change everything. Is human critical thinking up to the challenge? ]

So how do you prepare your graduates for the future in a rapidly changing market?

“Some things are immutable, like people management, organizational behavior, marketing,” she says. “Right now, the way products are marketed is a complete mess, but organizations still need to market.

“Financial accounting activities are still necessary to balance the books. Therefore, the need remains to understand finance and the terminology used. The challenges managers faced 50 years ago are still the same today. .

“It is important to remember that technology is only an enabler of change. It’s important to mention billions of dollars each year.

“The return on investment is low, and wrapping an outdated process in silicon and software just makes it a very expensive and poor process.”

Hume said Dublin Institute of Technology runs a number of courses designed to help students tackle this new world.

“We strive to prepare our graduates for the world of work of the future, regardless of their study program,” she says. give a class presentation.

“Bachelor’s degree programs in Business and ICT enable students to work closely with industry partners on real-world problems facing organizations by conducting class projects with industry partners. Includes AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity.

“In my Bachelor of Social Care Practice, I am working on implementing AR. [augmented reality] A simulation to the program that prepares students for the world where they will graduate and work.

“This idea came from our student entrepreneur IDEaS. [innovation, digital environmental and sustainability] hub.

“Students feel that they can use these new technologies from their experience working on placements in this field, and we are working to make this happen.

“In our Bachelor of Sociology and Political Science, our academic team emphasizes environmental sustainability and its importance from a social and political perspective.

“Therefore, there is no doubt that digital technologies are causing disruption, and the great challenges of the future remain, but we are using these technologies to support students in the workplace of the future and to meet these challenges. We can already see the benefits of addressing some of the