UON experts share their thoughts on the digital workforce of the future

Academics from the University of Northampton, joined digital experts from across the county to debate the way to educate and inspire a digital workforce at the most recent Tech at Ten event.

With predictions of 90% of all jobs needing excellent digital skills within 10 years, the Digital Northampton, Tech at Ten series, looks at how Northamptonshire is preparing students for the workplace of the future.

At the event on 25 September, a series of academics from the University of Northampton showcased the way in which business and education are working to inspire and educate young people, building a digitally focused workforce, fit for the future.

Dr Patrice Seuwou, Senior Lecturer in Digital Business, outlined the University of Northampton’s new Digital Business degree, which has been developed in partnership with industry, to cultivate the academic and critical thinking skills aligned to the ever-increasing opportunities in digital businesses.

Speaking about the course, Patrice, said: “The Digital Business programme is the academic response to the fast-paced transformation of traditional businesses to digital businesses, and the emergence of numerous start-ups with a strong digital focus and business model. The students who study this programme will be well placed to lead the emerging digital workforce.”

“The programme equips students with knowledge and skills focused on innovative technological and digital business areas within a wide range of sectors and industries, exploring opportunities and challenges which emerge from adopting digital initiatives.

“Digital Northampton is right at the forefront of Northamptonshire response to this emerging sector, and I was delighted to have been part of this event looking at ways we can create a robust digital workforce, which will flourish in our county.”

Digital Northampton connects the new and growing tech community in Northamptonshire through social media, events and competitions, helping to put the county on the map for innovation and promote the benefits of a local digital supply chain.

Education experts from the University, Dr Helen Caldwell, Dr Emma Whewell and Beth Garrett, who lead the Digital Learning across Boundaries’ (DLaB), Erasmus Team, which explore the use of technology within education, also took part in the event.

The DLaB Erasmus team shared how they’re pioneering technology to unities student teachers, teachers, pupils, lecturers and cultural partners across four European countries to experiment and develop their technology skills for education. The project focuses on three key themes; technology outdoors, the incorporation of Arts within Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEAM), and technology to teach language and cultural understanding.

During the event, the DLaB team shared how they are using technology outdoors and exploring the versatility of mobile technologies in the outdoor classroom.

Dr Helen Caldwell, Associate Professor in Education, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to take part in this event and we are excited about the potential to form partnerships with local companies, particularly those who attended the Merged Futures conferences and who are pioneering the use of AR and VR in the workplace. Being able to see real world examples such as these lends authenticity to university students’ and school pupils’ learning.”

Find out more about the Digital Business degree.

Find out more about Digital Northampton.