E-volution – enhancing your skills for the Information Age
Wednesday 08 June 2022Do we expect too much in the workplace? Consider this: How many times have you been told to figure out how to use a piece of software, without any real coaching? I may be mistaken, and the answer is ‘zero,’ but I suspect not. If we desire increasing efficiency through effective use of technology, we need to equip our staff with the skills to do so.
We expect staff to be intuitively able to use all Microsoft Office products, or Microsoft Power Platforms, with no more than a brief introduction.
A key facet to the use of, well, anything, is a strong foundation: what is data before how do I analyse it? What is the blockchain before what is Bitcoin?
Would we expect a novice to walk into a job and prepare a company tax return after a short introduction? No, they need plenty of training as to the whats, whys and hows of the rules, process and rationale.
Data, digital, tech, e-business, call it what you will, is the defining issue of our time – whether personally or professionally – leading to the fourth [industrial?] revolution, or perhaps should that be the next e-volution?
Following the announcement of their training partnership with KPMG in February 2022, including the pioneering Digital Accountant programme, BPP in the Crown Dependencies are once again at the forefront of digital training with their new Digital Skills Programme, an open-entry training programme starting in September 2022, running until December 2022.
Developed by BPP’s School of Technology, the aim is to enable those working in professional services to understand how emerging technology is impacting the professional services industry. BPP is unique in combining deep expertise in training and supporting professionals with a dedicated School of Technology.
The programme runs as eight 2-hour modules, over a four-month period, with some pre- and post-course reading to consolidate knowledge. The modules are set out below:
- Impact of technology on professional services
- Working with data
- Advanced data analysis
- AI & machine learning
- Ethical & legal issues raised by technology
- Cybersecurity
- Digital business & digital transformation
- Emerging technologies
Daniel Clark, head of BPP’s School of Technology, commenting on the need for digital skills across all industries, said: ‘Digital skills are no longer the preserve for those specialising in technology; to be a successful professional, everyone needs to have some proficiency in this area. These courses have therefore been designed for all professions, not data specialists. ’
BPP also offer an MSc in Applied Data Analytics through BPP University for those staff wishing to pursue additional accreditation.