"Techies Need Humanities Skills": 6 IT Education Trends in EdTech

More and more people are coming to study IT without basic knowledge - they need to be oriented
The demand for digital professions will continue to grow - we are only at the beginning of the journey
Representatives of traditional professions are increasingly demanding training in digital skills
We need to teach and learn not only digital skills, but also soft skills, and on real-world tasks
The opposition between online and offline is far-fetched - the issue of the quality of education lies elsewhere
The educational process is accelerating, and this is normal

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More and more people are coming to study IT without basic knowledge - they need guidance

Experts note a significant increase in interest in training in the field of digital professions, especially IT specialties. This observation is relevant even as IT hiring slows amid the current economic situation. The demand for digital skills continues to grow, demonstrating the importance of training qualified personnel in this field.

Every year, more and more people with no prior experience in digital technology are enrolling in training. This is important for those organizing and developing educational programs to consider. First, courses must be adapted to the specific needs of this new audience. Secondly, it is important to help beginners navigate the variety of digital professions and determine which ones are best suited to their interests and skills.

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Retraining for a new profession for free is possible if you take advantage of available resources and programs. First of all, it's worth paying attention to online courses and platforms offering free training. Many educational institutions and organizations offer webinars, master classes, and open lectures that can help you master a new specialty.

Also consider participating in government retraining programs, which are often funded by the budget. In some cases, employment centers offer courses for the unemployed, which is also an excellent option for retraining.

Don't forget about free resources such as YouTube and specialized educational sites, where you can find video tutorials and training materials on various professions. It's important to actively research information and stay up-to-date on new offerings to find the most suitable option for you.

Alexander Volchak notes that the audience for IT students has always been diverse, and this is due to different educational goals. Some seek new knowledge to apply in their current profession, others are planning a career change, and still others already have basic skills and want to deepen their knowledge in programming or analytics. There are also those starting from scratch and with no background in IT. This diversity of needs and skill levels creates a unique educational environment where everyone can find the right course to achieve their IT goals.

Since the beginning of spring 2022, two key trends have been observed in the educational sphere. First, many people are eager to begin training as soon as possible. Second, the number of those coming to training without prior preparation has increased. These changes highlight the growing interest in acquiring new knowledge and skills in today's realities.

The speaker explains that the audience interested in digital professions is often spontaneous and not very experienced in the digital field. Therefore, it is important to prepare such people for training in advance. They often come with a desire to master a specific programming language and become interested in a career as a data scientist. However, they often have no idea what programming, analytics, or Data Science itself are. Preparation at the initial stage will help them better understand the fundamentals and develop the necessary skills for a successful career in this field.

Sergey Mardanov confirmed this observation.

There are many inquiries from people interested in IT as a promising career field. However, many do not know which specialization would suit them: digital marketing, programming, design, and others. Most have a sincere desire to try themselves in this field, to find out how it matches their interests and can be used given their previous experience, which is often related to other fields. People often ask: "What is best for me?" Unfortunately, our country does not yet have a comprehensive state system of career guidance that would help people more easily choose the direction and sector of the economy in which they are interested. The development of such systems could significantly simplify the process of choosing a career in IT, making it more informed and targeted.

The demand for digital professions will continue to grow – we're only at the beginning

Digitalization will continue to deepen in all areas of activity, which will lead to an increase in demand for specialists in digital professions. The discussion participants are confident that the need for such personnel will not only remain stable, but will increase significantly. Alexander Volchek notes that this process will result in the emergence of new specialties that meet modern market demands.

When analyzing the professions of the future, it is worth considering that many areas remain outside our purview. We do not yet understand what the world will be like with the advent of full-fledged artificial intelligence, the latest battery technologies, or an innovative internet. These changes could radically transform the labor market and create new professions that we cannot even imagine yet. It is important to be prepared for these changes and adapt to new conditions, which will allow you to compete successfully in the future.

Left to right: Alexey Stepanov, Sergey Popkov, Sergey Mardanov, Alexander Volchek Shot: Skillbox

22 years ago, when he was studying to be a programmer, fields such as analytics, BI engineering, and data science didn't exist. There were also no categories of programmers such as back-end, front-end, full-stack, and mobile. He recalls sitting down at a development environment and doing everything: programming both back-end and front-end, and also serving as a full-stack developer and product manager. At that time, product managers didn't exist as a separate profession. The emergence of such roles became possible with the entry into the market of iconic products from companies such as Apple and the innovative projects of Elon Musk.

Currently, information technology covers a wide range of specialties. In addition to programming, there are fields such as analytics, project management, and product management. Within these areas, technological specializations are distinguished that are related to various programming languages and operating systems. Specialists can develop desktop, web, and mobile applications, taking into account the unique features of each platform. With increasing demand for IT services and new technologies, the diversity of professions in this field continues to grow, opening up new opportunities for specialists.

The world is vast and growing, and its diversity is constantly increasing. If you look at various industries, you'll notice that they are also developing rapidly. Immersion in IT technologies is just beginning to gain momentum, and this opens up new opportunities for businesses and society as a whole, Alexander believes.

The growing demand for IT specialists is also helping to simplify access to IT education, which until recently was quite difficult. This opens up new opportunities for people looking to start a career in IT.

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Demand for digital skills training is growing among representatives of traditional professions

Given the growing demand for IT specialists and specialists from other fields who develop digital products, there is an increasing need for digital skills among representatives of traditional professions. This need will only increase in the future. Programming, data analytics, and neural network use will become essential skills for virtually every sector of the economy. This means that many professionals will need to interact with software and adapt it to their needs using low-code and no-code platforms. Mastering these tools will increase work efficiency and improve the quality of task execution in various fields.

Traditional professions are gradually transitioning to the digital age, requiring their representatives to acquire new skills. This applies to virtually all professionals, including teachers, medical professionals, firefighters, and police officers. According to Sergey Mardanov, modern technologies are becoming an essential part of their work, and the need to adapt to these changes is becoming obvious. Training and developing digital competencies are becoming key factors for professional success in an environment of rapid technological progress.

The speaker noted that just five years ago, most school teachers had no idea about chatbots, voice assistants, or software for gamifying lessons. At best, PowerPoint presentations, often supported by CDs, were used in lessons, which formed the basis of "digitalization." Since then, a multitude of digital tools have appeared on the educational market and are being actively implemented. Many teachers have begun creating their own chatbots and developing simple programs. The expert is confident that this trend will only grow, and in the next five years we will witness even more significant progress in the use of technology in education.

You need to teach and learn not only digital skills, but also soft skills, and on real-world tasks.

Training IT specialists and representatives of digital professions today requires a comprehensive approach that includes both hard and soft skills. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability are becoming just as important as technical skills such as programming language proficiency. IT specialists work not in isolation but in a team, and effective collaboration with colleagues directly impacts task completion deadlines, the workflow, and ultimately, the quality of the IT product. Even a highly qualified specialist may be less valuable to an employer if they struggle to connect with the team. Therefore, recruiters place significant emphasis on assessing candidates' soft skills during interviews, understanding their impact on the success of the project and the company as a whole. Developing both skill categories is key to a successful career in IT. Humanitarian skills are undoubtedly important for technology professionals. Sergey Mardanov emphasizes that soft skills are essential for technologists. Unlike other professions, an understanding of emotional intelligence and various psychological approaches to people is especially important for them. If a team can't communicate and collaborate effectively, this hinders the product development process and leads to increased time and costs. Employers, of course, want to avoid such losses, so interpersonal skills are key to success in the technical field. According to Mardanov, an IT specialist should view their task more broadly than simply writing code. A limited approach can lead to misunderstandings, as in the well-known meme, where different product perceptions among designers, developers, and clients lead to misaligned expectations. It's important for all team members to have a common understanding of the final product. An IT specialist should understand that their job isn't just about writing code, but also about understanding how users will interact with the product. Even if the task boils down to coding, this code should be understandable and accessible to other team members, which promotes better collaboration and increases the quality of the final product.

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Soft skills and hard skills: which are more important for employment?

In today's increasingly competitive labor market, employers are increasingly asking which skills are more important for successful employment: soft skills or hard skills. Hard skills are technical and professional skills that can be easily measured and assessed. These include knowledge of programming, accounting, foreign languages, and other specialized fields. These skills are usually confirmed by diplomas, certificates, or work experience.

On the other hand, soft skills are interpersonal and communication skills that are difficult to measure, but are no less important. These include teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Employers value soft skills because they contribute to an effective work environment and help them adapt to change.

The question of which is more important has no clear answer. Both soft and hard skills play a key role in employment. Hard skills often become the primary selection criterion for candidates, especially for technical positions. However, the presence of well-developed soft skills can be a decisive factor when choosing between candidates with similar qualifications.

Therefore, for successful employment, it is important to develop both hard and soft skills. A comprehensive approach to training and professional development will help improve chances in the labor market and ensure a successful career.

Sergey Popkov emphasized the importance of soft skills, citing an example from the field of web design. Designers, like programmers, are often introverts. When a designer who has worked freelance for a long time first joins a large company, they may be surprised and even indignant at the volume of communication within the team. While working on developing and supporting an IT service, which involves many specialists, they might ask themselves, "Do we really need to spend so much time on communication? Why, instead of focusing on my own tasks, am I forced to participate in negotiations, listen, and discuss ideas three days out of five?" This experience highlights the importance of developing soft skills for successful teamwork and achieving a common result.

Sergey Popkov Shot: Skillbox

Sometimes specialists face The destructive impact of working conditions, which leads to job abandonment and leaving the company. This phenomenon highlights the importance of developing soft skills, especially in areas such as programming and digital design. The ability to adapt and work in a team is becoming integral to success in these fields. Developing emotional intelligence and communication skills not only allows specialists to better cope with challenges but also increases their value in the labor market.

What does this mean for education? This implies the need to integrate soft skills development into curricula. It is important to identify effective methods for implementing this approach.

Alexey Dvoretsky believes that watching educational lectures and reading books are limited in effectiveness. In his opinion, real learning occurs through action. Important aspects include team problem solving, role distribution, and the ability to negotiate. These are the very mechanics implemented in our hackathons, which promote practical learning and the development of collaboration skills. Hackathons are an effective way to connect students and employers, similar to the career centers operating at educational institutions such as Skillbox, GeekBrains, and Netology. Alexey Dvoretsky noted that hackathons are a form of project-based practice with the participation of industrial partners. These partners provide real-world problems that students must solve, asking clarifying questions and proposing their own solutions. This approach not only allows students to demonstrate their skills and potential to future employers but also provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of working with real business problems and develop important soft skills. Participating in hackathons helps create professional networks and improves your chances of successful employment.

The online/offline dichotomy is far-fetched – the issue of education quality lies elsewhere

Sergey Popkov raised an important question regarding the EdTech sector: is it possible to obtain comprehensive and high-quality retraining online on par with traditional offline education? This issue remains relevant and requires thorough discussion. In the rapidly changing world of education, it is important to understand how online courses compare to traditional teaching methods and what factors influence the quality of knowledge acquired.

Alexander Volchek expressed the opinion that in the next five to ten years, the habit of distinguishing between online and offline education will disappear. In the future, a single concept of "education" will exist, and the emphasis on the format of its delivery will lose its significance. Online tools will become an integral part of the educational process.

The quality of online education varies just as much as in the offline format, Volchek noted. There are courses consisting of just ten recorded video lessons, which represent a mere set of information. At the same time, there are full-fledged educational programs that truly prepare for the profession and provide a deep understanding of the subject. It's important to choose courses that provide not only theoretical knowledge but also the practical skills necessary for a successful career.

Alexander Volchek Still: Skillbox

When discussing the effectiveness of online education, it is necessary to take into account that this format is not suitable for all educational goals and types of training. While online learning can be effective for self-paced learning, it doesn't always provide the necessary conditions for deep learning and interaction with a teacher. It's important to evaluate which subjects and skills are best mastered remotely and which require a traditional in-person approach.

There are skills that can be learned online, and those that require hands-on experience. For example, someone who has played a flight simulator won't become a professional pilot just because of that. Gaining qualifications and experience requires training under the guidance of professionals and hands-on experience in real-world settings.

Thirdly, he emphasizes that even in professions that can be learned online, training alone, even if it is high-quality, is not enough.

Becoming a middle or senior programmer requires not only training but also real-world experience. It's important to understand that in our middle-level training programs, we emphasize the need to combine training with practical work to achieve this level. Otherwise, you could get stuck at the entry-level, remaining a junior. Regardless of the length of your training, be it several months or even decades, it's impossible to reach a senior level without practice. This applies not only to programmers but also to specialists in other professions, such as marketers and designers. Practical experience is key to career development and professional growth.

Modern educational platforms actively focus on interactions with their students' future employers. They create opportunities for students to connect with employers through career centers and organize training based on real-world cases. This allows students not only to gain theoretical knowledge but also to develop the practical skills necessary for professional success. Collaboration with industry promotes a better understanding of labor market requirements and increases graduates' competitiveness.

The speaker emphasizes that education should provide a solid foundation and opportunities for further development. Training in a narrow skill does not provide sufficient prospects. For example, if someone only learned how to plant potatoes, they will not become an agronomist. Indeed, a high-quality education in information technology opens doors to new opportunities. The advantage lies in the fact that IT specialists, with a strong knowledge base, can easily master new specializations and technological disciplines and adapt to changes in the labor market. This allows them to transition from one programming language to another, engage in analytics, or move into related professions. Thus, the importance of a universal and flexible approach to IT education cannot be overestimated.

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Studying new sources of information and current news is an important part of modern society. This allows you to keep abreast of the latest events, trends and changes in various fields. Regularly reading evidence-based and research-based materials helps develop critical thinking and form informed opinions. Use reliable resources to stay informed and make sound decisions in life and work.

EdTech is actively researching methods for assessing the quality of online courses, striving to ensure high learning standards and user satisfaction. Current approaches include analysis of educational materials, student feedback, and the use of technology to monitor progress. Key factors in assessment are course content, the level of interaction between instructors and students, and learning outcomes. Thus, EdTech not only evaluates current courses but also develops recommendations for their improvement, which contributes to the quality of the educational process and the satisfaction of student needs.

The educational process is accelerating, and this is normal

The labor market is experiencing an acute shortage of IT specialists, which requires the implementation of effective training methods. Training must be accelerated and targeted to quickly prepare qualified personnel. In a highly competitive environment, it is essential to develop relevant skills and knowledge that meet modern industry requirements.

Classical education cannot quickly meet the market demand for IT specialists. Oleg Sulimenko emphasizes the need to accelerate the educational process to prepare qualified personnel in the field of information technology. In a rapidly developing digital economy, it is essential to adapt educational programs, providing graduates with relevant knowledge and skills.

Alexey Stepanov emphasizes the importance of increasing the number of applicants in the IT field: "In 2022, more than 160,000 students will be accepted for training in IT specialties thanks to the active participation of the Ministry of Digital Development and other relevant federal agencies. This is twice as many as last year. However, it is worth noting that these specialists will only complete their education in four to five years. In this regard, the continuing professional education program, in particular the "Digital Professions" project, provides citizens with the opportunity to quickly master in-demand professions online."

To accelerate the training of specialists, it is necessary to focus not simply on market needs, but on the specific requirements of employers with their direct participation, says Oleg Sulimenko. It is important that both students and companies strive for mutual interaction. This will allow us to train IT specialists who are already familiar with the requirements and expectations of employers. As a result, companies will be able to reduce the costs of onboarding, searching, and attracting new employees. This approach creates a positive effect for both students and companies, which ultimately contributes to the more effective development of the IT industry.