Future-Proof Skills Universities Can Equip Their Students With Now

80% of students in their first-year think that the primary goal of higher education should be career readiness and a well-rounded education (according to a report by Chronicle of Higher Education). When choosing a university, employability is now one of the largest factors that play into which institution a future student picks. That means colleges and universities need to do more to attract and retain students in 2023, and helping them develop skills that will set them up for the future of work is one giant step.

What’s more, in this digital age, the skills that employers look for in new graduates are evolving. According to the World Economic Forum, over 150 million new technology jobs will be created over the next five years, and a staggering 77% of all jobs will require digital skills by 2023.

These factors combined mean students are actively looking for degree programs and university offerings that will equip them with the skills they need to land a job post-graduation.

To stay ahead of the curve, here are the 12 future-proof skills that are going to become essential for development in 2023 and how you can equip your students with them:

1. Chatbot Development

Given the skyrocketing popularity of social media marketing and eCommerce websites, learning chatbot development skills can come in handy. A chatbot is a software application that mimics human speech using artificial intelligence. This software is replacing service desks and has developed new opportunities for companies to leverage AI.

Anyone can learn chatbot development without having to learn how to write code. There are plenty of how-to resources and video tutorials that will teach you chatbot development skills. Coupled with the right set of skills, professional chatbot developers earn a handsome income in top tech companies.

Potential Job Roles:

• Chatbot Developer
• Chatbot Consultant
• Bot Developer

Ideal Internship Career Field: Computer Science & IT Internships

2. Agile Project Management

Agile Project Management (APM) is a management concept that emphasizes customer and individual corporation, flexibility in response to change, and rapid delivery. Agile project managers break complex work into smaller and more manageable tasks. Thus significantly reducing the time in planning and support for team alignment and cohesion.

Those who learn APM will also develop soft and hard skills, including project management, verbal leadership, critical thinking, organization, time management, and more. All of which only add more gravitas to a resume.

Potential Job Roles:

• Agile Project Manager
• Project Manager
• Program Manager

Ideal Internship Career Field: Business Internships

3. Video Production & Animation 

With platforms like TikTok, YoutTube, and IGTV, the video and animation market is booming like never before. No wonder video production and animations are wildly in-demand skills for digital marketing companies. Startups, in particular, are looking for diverse and experienced video producers and animators.

Therefore, if you master video editing, videography, animation, or video production skills, these platforms can enable you to generate a handsome source of income. You can also intern as a video editor and test the field as a potential career option.

Potential Job Roles:

• Videographer 
• Producer 
• Cinematographer

Ideal Internship Career Field: Media, Comms, & Publishing Internships

Read More: Startup Internships: Why More Students Are Choosing Them

4. Coding

Written codes run our digital-infused world, and since technology dominates everything, learning how to code will help those early in their career automate time-consuming tasks, build their website, and do so much more.

Even without becoming a professional coder, a fundamental understanding of codes will go a long way. Learn the skill in-depth, and you are opening yourself to many high-end coding-based job opportunities.

Potential Job Roles:

• Software Developer
• Back-end Developer
• Computer Orogrammer

Ideal Internship Career Field: Computer Science & IT Internships

5. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity safeguards computer networks and systems from cyber-attacks aiming to modify, access, or destroy confidential data. As the world is shifting towards remote work, the need for a cyber security professional is blooming within every industry (33% from 2020 to 2030).

Learning about security threats from malware attacks, phishing, and IoT attacks and how to defend them is a sure-shot way to future-proof a career. However, cybersecurity jobs are highly technical. Therefore, to land a high-paying job, young people need to broaden their skills with more hands-on training, for example, through industry-led projects.

Potential Job Roles:

• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Network Engineer
• Security Architect

Ideal Internship Career Field: Computer Science & IT Internships

6. Cloud Computing

As companies are shifting their physical infrastructure to cloud services like Google cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, the need for cloud computing professionals is soaring.

Gaining a deep understanding of the cloud is valuable for any employee, but on a smaller level, it will also be great for effectively distributing and managing various projects. Plus, adding this skill along with good project management abilities will set anyone up for a great career in managing and organizing companies’ processes.

Potential Job Roles:

• Cloud Engineer
• Cloud Administrator
• Cloud Developer

Ideal Internship Career Field: Computer Science & IT Internships

7. Artificial Intelligence

Digitally transforming companies account for over 70% of businesses globally, and AI powers a majority of them. As per CAGR, the AI field will compound an annual growth rate of 42.2% from 2020 to 2027.

To cope with the demands, companies need candidates with artificial intelligence skills.

However, developing this technical skill takes time. The first step is to understand how AI is developed. The key is to learn how to manipulate and interact with AI, and learning in the field so that knowledge can be applied as it is learned, such as in work-integrated learning, is the key to success. 

Potential Job Roles:

• Data Scientist
• Robotics Scientist
• Machine Learning Engineer

Ideal Internship Career Field: Computer Science & IT Internships

8. Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is the process of promoting and marketing services and products through different digital channels like search engines, PPC advertising, and social media platforms.

Digital marketing is an umbrella skill that includes many other skills, such as data analysis, content marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and much more.

In addition, the digital marketing field allows those to take advantage of a unique combination of technical and creative knowledge. From writing eye-catching headlines to analyzing analytics of the campaign, bright digital marketers can do it all. 

Potential Job Roles:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist
• Social Media Marketing Specialist
• Email Marketing Manager

Ideal Internship Career Field: Marketing Internships

9. Content – Copywriting & SEO

In a sub-niche of digital marketing, copywriting and SEO are high-end-demand skills. Writing clear, crisp, creative, and compelling copies, nerve fails to promote a brand and attract the target audience’s attention. 

Add SEO, one of the most powerful online marketing skills, and employability can skyrocket. 

Potential Job Roles:

• Copywriter
• Content Strategist
• SEO Expert

Ideal Internship Career Field: Marketing Internships

10. Low-and No-Code Development

Low-and no-code is a development approach that enables people with little-to-no coding knowledge to build apps; typically by using drag-and-drop options instead of writing complex codes.

The low-code software development is becoming an in-demand SaaS (Software as a Service) business trend. As a result, the market is expected to value over 191 million U.S. dollars by 2030. With this skill on board, young people can become valuable assets addressing the IT skills gap.

Potential Job Roles:

• Low-Code Developer
• Low-Code Architect
• IT Project Manager

Ideal Internship Career Field: Computer Science & IT Internships

11. Graphic Design

Businesses value quality graphic design skills, as they are vital for creating logos, banners, and other visual content for social media and website content. Plus, with plenty of online courses and free resources online, learning graphic designing skills isn’t tough.

Students can polish their design skills by interning within a design department or an agency. Even if the graphic design career path isn’t taken, basic knowledge of graphic design can help assist companies in many ways. 

Potential Job Roles:

• Graphic Designer
• Logo Designer
• Web Designer

Ideal Internship Career Field: Creative, Design, & Fashion Internships

12. Remote Communication & Collaboration

Irrespective of your job role, remote communication, and collaboration skills are necessities in 2022 and beyond. An ability to clearly communicate in a remote setup and collaborate with the team to produce results will pave the way for a successful career. 

With any remote work-integrated learning, students will understand the challenge of remote teamwork and workflow, especially when working in different time zones, and gain exposure to a global company alongside it. 

Potential Job Roles:

• Communication Specialist
• Remote Team Manager
• Virtual Communication Coordinator

Ideal Internship Career Field: Recruitment & HR Internships

Future-Proof Your Students with Guaranteed Internships

The landscape is set, and being able to adapt to the ever-evolving workforce is something that your students cannot afford to miss out on. For universities, meeting the demands of employers and equipping students with the skills they need to advance their career post-graduation is a big feat.

The solution to all this is reframing traditional learning methods and combining them with solutions from third-party providers that will prepare your students for the changing world, boost their employability, and increase your retention rates.

Virtual Internships are the only platform that can guarantee 100% of your students an internship in their career field and region of choice in a month. Alongside that, your students will be supported by an industry-leading intuitive platform and expert coaching designed to deliver work-ready expertise and skills to your students.

With over 250,000 opportunities across 150 countries designed to meet the needs of any size campus, our leading platform gives your students the ability to collaborate in professional environments across the globe effectively. 

You can be a college or university that actively future-proofs its students by parting with us.