{"id":2391,"date":"2024-04-24T11:40:18","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T11:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/digitalbuzzuoe\/?p=2391"},"modified":"2024-04-26T13:42:35","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T13:42:35","slug":"digital-skills-at-the-university-of-exeter-the-key-to-digital-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/digitalbuzzuoe\/digital-skills-at-the-university-of-exeter-the-key-to-digital-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Skills at the University of Exeter – The Key to Digital Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Technology and people both lie at the heart of digital transformation, and one can\u2019t work effectively without the other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the third blog post of their digital skills series, Dave Weller, Digital Skills Lead at the University of Exeter, discusses why upgrading digital skills is harder than upgrading technology – and how the University\u2019s Digital Skills Initiative will approach digital upskilling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Digital skills: the key to digital transformation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The path to digital transformation begins with digital skills.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of Exeter recently partnered with Times Higher Education to host Digital Universities UK 2024<\/a> on our Streatham campus, and this event really drove home that digital skills are the key to achieving successful digital transformation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, digital transformation has three pillars \u2013 technical, process, and people. While it\u2019s tempting to paper over the cracks with new technology, an organisation won\u2019t achieve its potential without digitally literate people.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Harvard Business Review notes, \u2018digital transformation is about talent, not technology\u2019<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Digital transformation vs. digital skills <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Digital skills refer to the abilities and knowledge needed to effectively use digital technologies, devices, and resources. These skills range from basic computer literacy to advanced competencies like data analysis, programming, digital content creation, and AI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital transformation on the other hand, refers to the strategic integration of digital technologies into all areas of an organisation, changing how it operates and delivers value.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While digital transformation is often driven by top-down initiatives, its success depends on the bottom-up application of digital skills by the people who use those new technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Stanford University\u2019s Erik Brynjolfsson<\/a>, a significant reason that organisations fail to harvest productivity gains from new technologies (including AI), is that they neglect to invest in upskilling their staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why are digital skills often overlooked? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Technology is clearly defined, but people are complex. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussing technology is straightforward, as it has clearly defined capabilities. We can extrapolate how upgrading technology will affect efficiency and productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upskilling people is more challenging. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone involved in learning and development knows that everyone starts at a different level of understanding. Usually this calls for a skills audit at an institutional level, with a training needs analysis at the individual level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with this, upskilling still isn\u2019t guaranteed.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff also need time, motivation, engagement, the right level of challenge, and support. Then there\u2019s the eternal challenge of measuring learning outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Introducing Our Digital Skills Initiative<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re confident that our Digital Skills Initiative will tackle these challenges head-on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n