Digitally qualified staff

There is a considerable need, presently not met, for digitally qualified staff and specialized digital expertise in science and industry. The spectrum of skills required begins with basic applications on computers and mobile devices, includes the qualifications of planning and implementing digitally based processes and projects and ends with the advanced application of methods of data analysis, algorithms, programming, modelling and simulation. Addressing this supply shortfall requires both long-term design through changes to the curricula of undergraduate courses and also short-term, agile programmes in further education through training, online certificates or other extra-curricular formats.

Close collaboration between universities, non- university institutions and industry is required to ensure that requirements are coordinated which can be achieved, for example, by greater exchange of expertise in joint further training measures, but also through reciprocal shadowing or in consultations on recruitment strategies for highly qualified staff. In addition, out- standing digital skills in science, particularly in junior scientists, must be systematically promoted to cover the peak needs for digitally and analytically trained graduates and recipients of further education both in science and in industry. A close relationship is to be maintained between the Alliance Initiative and the relevant activities of the IT Summit (IT-Gipfel), particularly the working group on digital skills. Subject areas such as the scientific ethics of the digital world or good digital research practice are also to be closely coordinated with the activities in the field of action “Scientific practice” on the basis of current developments.

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