Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals) and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage and audiovisual, that enable users to access, store, transmit, understand and manipulate information.
As the world continues to thrive in the digital age, the demand for professionals with the ability and computing skills has increased exponentially and the emergence of technology has made the computing industry a lucrative career pathway.
If you’re considering studying towards a career in the ICT industry, or have not considered the prospect, we took a look at 5 key reasons to study ICT:
ICT in Diverse field of work
If you presumed a career in ICT is sitting in front of a computer all day or working and repairing desktop PCs, you’d be wrong. The field of Information Technology is a wide, diverse sector with the highest abundance of job opportunities in many parts of the world.
In a fast-paced world, the reliance on technology has been paramount to the success of businesses, organisations and all walks of everyday life.
Whilst a graduate career as an IT Technician, Support Assistant or Data Analyst is a successful pathway, the opportunities for further specialisms can lead to advanced salaries.
Specialist areas such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and even robotics can double average salaries to well in excess of £60,000.
It will help to prepare them for the jobs of the future
One of the most important reasons why schools should focus on IT lessons is that it helps to provide students with the skills that they need to succeed in the future.
Technology is constantly changing and almost every industry has experienced incredible innovation in recent years, so it’s important that students are given the tools, traits and questions that they need to succeed in this uncertain future. Almost everyone nowadays is expected to have a good understanding of tools like email and Slack, which is vital for schools and colleges to consider for their students as well.
Education is heading down a digital path
A final positive aspect of IT being engrained more in the modern school system is that the world of education is starting to become more and more digital.
Whether it’s with the inclusion of items like iPads in the classroom, with online courses through companies like Khan Academy or with a further emphasis innovative technology like 5G or virtual reality in school, education is becoming a digital industry.
Promotion of Digital Transformation
One of the reasons why ICT in education is attracting attention is society’s promotion of DX, which stands for Digital Transformation, with a single letter “X” for “crossing” because “Trans” means “to cross.
DX refers to the use of digital technology to innovate products, services, organizations, and business models. In the recent business scene, numerous companies are in the process of starting DX promotion initiatives. The DX perspective is essential for organizations to solve their problems and gain an edge over their peers in the marketplace. The same is true in the education sector.
ICT in education is expected to improve the quality of education through high-quality digital teaching materials and individual optimization of learning content. Such ICT in education measures is considered effective from the perspective of DX promotion and are expected to contribute to the reform of Japan’s education scene.
Reduce the burden on teachers
In addition to teaching and preparing for classes, teachers have a variety of other duties, such as dealing with parents and advising club activities. This burden on teachers is seen as a problem in the field, and the challenge is how to reduce the workload.
The introduction of ICT in education reduces the burden on teachers in detail, such as the time and effort required to print out materials used in class and to write on the board. The time freed up by the introduction of ICT can be used to solidify class content and perform miscellaneous tasks, which is expected to improve the quality of education as a result.