Automation, Robotics and More: Are There Still Future-Proof Courses of Study?
A tremor is shaking the economy – with more and more news about potential applications for artificial intelligence (AI), in many industries everything is being called into question. Some companies are already suffering. E-learning platforms, for example, are already feeling the strong competition from ChatGPT and co.
But employees and the self-employed are also getting nervous. After all, automation and Industry 4.0 are already factors that are transforming the job market again and again. Now AI is being added to the mix. This raises the question of whether there are still future-proof career plans and whether studying is still worthwhile. The good news: Yes, there are courses of study that make current developments seem less threatening.
Here’s why automation and artificial intelligence are changing everything
Artificial intelligence should therefore not cause panic. Instead, employees in heavily affected industries need to make sure in good time that they acquire the necessary skills to deal with innovations. This can be achieved, for example, with distance learning alongside work: automation studies.
Continuing education is becoming more important for almost all industries
Craftsmen, nurses or veterinarians know that they are embarking on a secure career path. They are still learning when they start their careers, but the basics they have learned will help them after five years on the job just as much as after 30 years on the job. For many industries, this can no longer be said.
That’s because Industry 4.0 is changing everything – from the automotive industry to logistics to food production. Thus, employees have to prepare themselves for the fact that their jobs will change significantly over the years. Lifelong learning is becoming more important. A second degree, continuing education courses or even internships at an advanced age are likely to become more common in the future.
The choice of a future-proof course of study will also become more relevant. IT security, automation and robotics, for example, are already in high demand. Courses of study in these areas therefore create an ideal prerequisite for benefiting from the shortage of skilled workers in IT and positioning oneself for the future.
Ethical and social questions must be answered together
The debate about technical progress is not new. ChatGPT, Midjourney and other much-discussed software, therefore, does not initiate anything that has not already existed. Whenever human labor is overtaken by technical progress, there is an outcry – while at the same time new jobs are created.
This sometimes very emotional debate is not without importance. Questions about ethical use of AI should be discussed by experts and society. However, employees also need to take some distance from the debate in order to position themselves for the future. That’s why many people are currently starting distance learning courses or continuing their education privately. Refusing to embrace technological progress will not stop it.
Distance learning universities offer the opportunity to learn and acquire additional qualifications while working or having a family. Degrees in robotics, digital engineering or even business informatics can provide real competitive advantages when changing jobs or downsizing. However, this should be addressed sooner rather than later, as innovations never take a break.
