Many People May Not Keep Up With Rapid Digitalization
Leipzig. Educational programs will play an increasingly important role as digitalization becomes more prominent in societies across the globe, Bombardier Transportation president Laurent Troger said on Wednesday (31/05).
Speaking at the 2017 Summit of the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany, Troger said that as a representative of the private sector, he urges policymakers to "make sure we have educational programs that will bring talents that we need to face the big challenge."
According to Troger, cities of the future will be designed differently. In order to accommodate the changes that arrive with technological advancement, the cities will have to effectively integrate telecommunications with waste and water management, transportation, which will require new skills that must be introduced through appropriate educational programs.
Troger added that a generational problem may emerge as older workers are not trained for the jobs of tomorrow.
"We are not unleashing the potential of the talents we have […] I invite policymakers to unleash this potential and to design a future for everybody [where] we can in fact, not block innovation, but bring innovation," Troger said, adding that the potential pertains to various sectors, including transportation.
Bombardier is a Canadian multinational aerospace and transportation company.
When it comes to digitalization, the question today is no longer about the availability of technology, but how it can be incorporated into the lives of all social groups and how mindsets can be changed so that people will not be left behind.
During a panel discussion, Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transportation Gerardo Ruiz Esparza said that even those who are equipped with IT knowledge still need to be kept up to date.
"Technology is developing at an immense speed, but knowledge of the working population is not developing as speedily. We have not found the right way to offer an alternative to these people," Esparza said.
He suggested introducing special curricula for people to be always be aware of advancements. The minister likened this to regular computer software updates, which are essential to keep electronic devices running smoothly.
"There should be a special program for everybody ... this aspect is important for the well-being of all countries," Esparza said.
The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organization with 59 member countries. It acts as a think tank for transport policy. Its annual summit is the world's largest gathering of transport ministers and a global platform for dialogue on transportation policies.
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