RMIT engages AWS to help tackle the IT skills shortage

RMIT has selected Amazon Web Services’ Sumerian platform to provide short courses in virtual reality, augmented reality and AI topics, with the overall aim of boosting upskilling, lifelong learning and professional development in IT subjects for all sectors of the community.

The new courses are Developing AI Strategy, Developing AR and VR Strategy and Developing AR and VR Applications. Adapted from the AWS Educate global program, they’re intended to address changes in the workplace and provide pathways for gaining AWS Cloud computing skills, micro-credentials and AWS certifications.

To get some more detail of the courses and where IT education is heading in general, we spoke with Helen Souness, CEO of RMIT Online, and Iain Rouse, AWS Country Director for Public Sector in Australia and New Zealand.

We hear it repeatedly said that workers are going to need digital skills, but which kinds of skills in particular?

Helen Souness: Australia’s workforce is facing an increasingly critical digital skills gap. These can include hard technical capabilities like data science and software engineering, as well as platform specific capabilities for leading technology solutions. There are also capability gaps in the enterprise skills that are necessary to drive new digital ways of working, like creativity, design thinking and agile delivery. Everyone — employers and employees — will need basic digital skills to perform their role, be it in retail, education or IT.

Ian Rouse: The rise of cloud and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning has led to a new wave of jobs, services and skills required to serve consumer needs. Within 20 years, 90% of all jobs will require some digital skills, and according to Australia’s Digital Pulse 2019, 100,000 more tech workers will be needed by 2024.

Does this mean everyone is expected to become a computer programmer?

HS: As emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and cloud computing software are becoming a big part of our everyday and professional lives, we need to ensure we are best equipped to understand these technologies and the role they will play over the next decade. This does not mean that those from non-technical backgrounds need to become experts in these topics, but gaining a basic understanding of what they are and how they benefit the business will be beneficial on an individual and organisational level and will open more opportunities for jobseekers.

It this thrust only for people who already work in the IT field?

HS: To combat the skills shortage, we are collaborating with industry leaders such as AWS to upskill and train the next generation of IT professionals, as well as those from non-technical backgrounds looking to broaden their skillset. The pursuit for new knowledge and technical skills is the reason why lifelong learning is so important in shaping our personal and professional development, and it has and will continue to play a huge role in helping us to better understand our place in the future workforce.

IR: Learning new skills in these areas are not just limited to today’s graduates. The pursuit for new knowledge and technical skills is a commitment that can occur at any point in an individual’s career. We’re seeing workers from the frontline to the C-suite enrol in courses such as Developing AI Strategy or AWS Cloud Practitioner, in order to enhance their personal development and business skills. It’s clear there’s a growing understanding of the value and importance continuous learning brings to both the business and its people.

Which sector(s) and workforce members are you focusing on initially?

HS: Supporting the STEM sector is crucial for Australia’s current and future productivity. The current skills shortage and low participation rate of women in STEM is reducing our national potential to transform our digital landscape and become a diverse and fully engaged workforce. In order to keep up with emerging trends and technologies, Australia needs to have a competitive edge over emerging technologies and we can start with supporting the STEM sector.

Are you seeing demand for any particular courses? Do student expectations match with those of potential employers?

HS: We’re hoping to make emerging technologies, such as AI and autonomous vehicles, more accessible to a wider audience and have found that the industry-led short course model resonates with all levels of an organisation, from practitioners to executives.

One example is RMIT Online collaborating with AWS to launch the world’s first university short course in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) using Amazon Sumerian to address the skills gap in this burgeoning market. We are in a unique position where we can more quickly iterate new courses that respond to the high demand of emerging technologies.

All of our courses are developed with industry leaders in the field — the likes of AWS, Adobe, Salesforce and REA Group — to make sure we are plugging relevant skills gaps within the sector. By working alongside industry leaders who are feeling the impact of the skills shortage firsthand, we have created a more agile curriculum that responds to the areas in high demand for skills mastery.

IR: According to RMIT’s LEARN. WORK. REPEAT. The value of lifelong learning in professional industries report, 95% of employers surveyed stated that they receive benefits from their workforce engaging in ongoing learning. As cloud technology transforms the work we do and the skills we need to do it, more organisations are seeking individuals who have skills in cloud, AI strategy, and VR and AR applications to ensure the business can innovate and remain competitive.

Is there any difference between skills needed for private and public sector jobs?

HS: No, absolutely not. All skills should be easily transferable between the private and public sector.

What will RMIT’s engagement with AWS mean for those who are looking to train or upskill?

HS: Through our collaboration with AWS, RMIT Online has been able to deliver cloud-related content to upskill and train the next generation of IT leaders. We chose to work with AWS Academy to introduce new cloud computing courses to respond directly to a growing trend within the industry for academic and industry credentialed courses, and cater to the demand for a cloud-skilled workforce. We are developing a range of specific courses to prepare individuals with skills in innovative technology, while making them more accessible than ever before to professionals outside of IT.

Using your crystal ball, what will the skills situation be in five years’ time?

HS: By 2025, ACS estimates that 100,000 more tech workers will be needed, and yet Australian universities are only sending out fewer than 4000 ICT graduates a year. As we become increasingly accustomed to major technological changes such as blockchain, AI and the 5G rollout, we will see a broader demand for more upskilling and training opportunities in not only the IT and technology industries. The importance of soft skills for jobseekers will continue to rise as well, with skills such as creativity and leadership set to become an assessable focus in the near future.

Pictured: Helen Souness, CEO of RMIT Online.