IT Alert: Are you ready to be a talent of the future?

We are living in exciting times where technology continues to change the way we live, work, and play. For young talents, on the other hand, this transformation means gearing up with necessary skills, especially that 65 percent of the jobs in the future do not exist today, says the World Economic Forum.

Grade 9 and 10 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) students in Panabo National High School in Davao del Norte

To become a kick-ass IT professional amid the digital age, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noted that young generations need to equip themselves with digital skills, such as the capability to use artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as advancements in fields of science, engineering, and computing.

Developing strong literacy and numeracy skills, socio-emotional skills, critical and innovative thinking, complex problem solving, and the ability to collaborate effectively with other talents will also come handy for anyone to thrive in a connected digital economy and society.

Now the question begs: how do you get started?

First things first: Familiarize yourself with digital tools
Familiarizing yourself with digital tools to handle coding, data analytics, and IoT this early would give you insights into its capabilities in building better systems.

As you improve your skills and become an efficient IT professional, you can then use advanced software and digital platforms to improve the operations of businesses. Then when you gain enough experience, you can start tackling big projects, such as the healthcare, banking, energy, sports, and entertainment sectors in the country.

Take advantage of available online resources 
The digital age presents plenty of certified online learning resources you can access to build highly desirable software skills ahead of your peers. This advanced knowledge and expertise would give you a strong competitive edge as you launch your professional career someday.

But to gain the maximum benefits of learning these digital tools, investing in quality education that teaches and guides you about the tech industry is a must.

Invest in Quality Education
Quality education not only equips you with the relevant skills needed in the new IT industry but also enhances your creative, technical, and entrepreneurial mindset to shape society.

In the Philippines, about 825 schools offer IT courses that can help you develop your digital skills. Enrolling in these programs allows you to learn the basics of the advanced knowledge of IT concepts and tools.

SAP, a global-tech giant offering cloud-based solutions, helps in grooming young IT students for the digital future by collaborating with some of the country’s top IT schools through its SAP University Alliances Program (SAP UA).

SAP UA is a global initiative that supports more than 3,700 institutes in 116 countries to incorporate the latest SAP technologies into teaching. It helps faculty and teachers at educational institutions and partners around the world to educate next-generation talents with SAP skills for the intelligent enterprise and the experience economy, engages with SAP events, builds industry partnerships, launches graduates in the SAP ecosystem, and inspire young thinkers.

In the Philippines, SAP has been collaborating with top universities like the Mapua Institute of Technology, Far Eastern University, University of Sto. Tomas, and AMA Computer University, among others.

With its purpose-driven campaigns, SAP conducted an SAP Cloud Platform (SCP) Workshop at Mapúa University, where local members of the SAP UA program trained freshmen to junior college students from the Information Systems Program under the School of Information Technology.

SAP Cloud Platform Senior Director Joni Wong Angkas gave an overview of the cloud platform while SAP Solution Advisor Doreen Loh and SAP Presales Specialist Chai Heng Yeo conducted the Fiori App Development, IoT, and Building a Chatbot.

“Educational institutions have a responsibility for molding the current and incoming generation’s potential through proper guidance and training. Collaborating with SAP has provided our students with the in-demand and relevant skills for them to be successful future innovative leaders in IT and tech industries,” said Ariel Kelly D. Balan, dean of the School of Information Technology at Mapúa University.

In a similar development, SAP has also conducted its Youth in ICT program last October 23. The SAP Philippines taught at least 30 Grade 9 and 10 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) students in Panabo National High School in Davao del Norte the basics of coding, as well as giving them a view on choosing a career in ICT.

SAP Philippines Managing Director Edler Panlilio said, “The young generation is stepping into an era where technology and innovation are the key drivers for growth. For them to become catalysts for change, we must teach them how to use digital tools in supporting the growth of intelligent enterprises in the country’s experience economy. Investing time on these worthwhile initiatives, touching the lives of students and other members of our society, and eventually, converting their situations into life-changing experiences is what we, at SAP, as a purpose-driven organization, is all about.”