Professor Orla Feely
President, Engineers Ireland
Over recent years, digitalisation has been woven into the fabric of society and business, including engineering, at every level.
Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of many digital solutions that would have otherwise taken years to become mainstream. Throughout the pandemic, Ireland’s engineers have risen to the challenge, supporting the functioning of society through digital innovation. This digital transformation will continue, presenting both opportunities and challenges for Ireland.
The World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2021, published by the Institute for Management Development (IMD), ranks Ireland 19th worldwide. The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), published by the European Commission, ranks Ireland 5th highest among countries in the EU, behind Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.
To take a leading position in these rankings and better prepare Ireland for the digital needs of the future, we must do more to improve its digital environment and become more competitive globally.
While Ireland provides many good options for digital education in higher education institutions, more can be undertaken to support and grow the Irish workforce.
Developing future skills
Attracting and upskilling engineers will be vital for our competitiveness and to prepare for Ireland’s future. We need to have the necessary skills, not just amongst our graduates, but also in our existing workforce who should be able to avail of upskilling and training, where needed.
The ‘Attracting Diverse Talent to the Engineering Professions of 2030’ project found that engineers of the future will be presented with complicated, complex problems and will need to consider multi-perspective views, whilst being conscious of long-term effects, risk and the impacts of decisions on society.
These engineers will most certainly need fundamental technical skills. As the rate of change in technology increases, engineers must also become highly flexible lifelong learners, capable of adapting their practices to new technologies and developments.
Nurturing Ireland’s workforce
While Ireland provides many good options for digital education in higher education institutions, more can be undertaken to support and grow the Irish workforce.
As detailed in Engineers Ireland’s State of Ireland 2021 report, Infrastructure and a Digital Future, we have recommended subsidising more third-level courses. By making these courses open-access and available online, the Government would provide greater access to digital upskilling, while continuing to promote interest in digitalisation amongst the general public.
The report also made recommendations in relation to lifelong learning to support skills demand. It is imperative that engineers in Ireland continuously look to upskill, particularly in digital education.
We are committed to supporting the competence of our members’ digital skills by providing continuing professional development opportunities, including online webinars, courses and resources.
For more information on Engineers Ireland’s State of Ireland 2021 report, Infrastructure and a Digital Future, visit: www.engineersireland.ie