Over 230-million jobs on the African continent will require digital skills by 2030, according to a study by the International Finance Corporation.
From vertical urban farming to occupational therapy, even careers outside of the tech sector will be redefined by automation and artificial intelligence (AI).
Students who pursue qualifications in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are well positioned to excel in the jobs of the future.
“Understanding technology has become a basic requirement for employment. Students who want to future proof their careers need to consider choosing a field of study that will help them master the digital skills necessary to succeed. Computer science, for example, is one of the most popular and competitive majors that students targeting top universities are choosing,” says Rebecca Pretorius, country manager at global mentorship company Crimson Education.
Crimson Education is a global EdTech company which focuses on building the candidacy of high school students wanting to study at top-ranked universities in the United States, Canada, UK, Europe, and Australia.
Degrees in STEM provide students with a range of transferable skills such as problem solving, digital and numerical literacy, critical thinking, and teamwork. This gives young people an opportunity to solve real-world problems by building and applying ground-breaking technology, enhancing medical research through data analysis, and reducing the world’s environmental impact.
From Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Carnegie Mellon University to Oxford and KU Leuven, international universities with a strong STEM-focus are receiving more applications each year.
“Admissions are more competitive than ever. Grade 11 is the latest that a student wanting to gain admission to study a STEM pathway at one of these top universities should start preparing their application. The earlier a student starts, the more they can do to build up a strong academic and extracurricular profile, in order to be as competitive as they can be, to improve their chances of admission,” says Pretorius.
“Services like Crimson assist students with strategic advice; university and course selection; exploring different careers and majors; and planning their academic pathway, as well as the academic, extracurricular, and leadership activities and projects required to build a competitive profile. From there, it’s all about working on a strong personal statement and essays and a standout application,” says Pretorius.
Futureproof skills for students to consider include:
* 3D printing – From manufacturing prosthetic organs and equipment for Paralympic athletes, to edible food and spaceship parts, 3D printer operators work with doctors, engineers, and even artists in this rapidly expanding field. The top school for engineering majors is Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is home to a state-of-the-art 3D-printing facility.
* Pharmacology – While a friendly AI robot might take over the traditional role of pharmacists in the future, the reality of future pandemics means pharmacists will continue to be critical to biotech research and medication management. Harvard University has one of the top Pharmacology Schools in the world.
* Data science – Everything we do generates data, from scrolling through Instagram to visiting the planetarium. Data scientists are like digital detectives who can analyse and understand data to improve the way businesses run and how they interact with customers. The top school for data science is University of California, Berkeley.
* Cyber security: As our world becomes more dependent on technology, cybersecurity experts will become our virtual police, responsible for keeping our personal information and digitally stored funds safe. The top school for computer science is Carnegie Mellon University.
* Human resources: While technology is changing the way businesses operate, humans are still at the core of how they work. Human resource (HR) professionals are critical to managing STEM work environments, facilitating remote work, and monitoring employee mental health in a virtual world. The top school to study Human Resources Management in Cornell University.