The United Nations (UN) has hinged economic developments on increased information and communications technology (ICT) skills, especially among developing countries. Speaking through its specialized agency for ICT, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN noted that skills are fundamental for participation in today’s information society, and correlate positively with social well-being and economic productivity.
The global body said there is an increased need for “soft” skills beyond technical and navigational skills. It disclosed that breadth of skills – including technical operational, information management, social and content-creation skills – will be fundamental to achieving positive and avoiding negative outcomes.
It stressed that algorithms, the proliferation of bots, and a shift to the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, augment the need for critical information and advanced content-creation skills. “With the increased complexity of ICT systems, and an exponential increase in the amount of data being collected, transferable digital skills and lifelong learning are indispensable.”
