Letter of the Day | Students must understand today to shape tomorrow

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Students need to know that it’s not enough any more to just study hard and get good grades. The world is changing faster than ever, and if they’re not paying attention, they’ll miss opportunities that could change their life and miss preparing for careers that are only just being created.

Keeping up with what’s happening locally, regionally, and globally is essential.

Understanding how the world is moving helps you make smarter decisions about the skills you build, the subjects you study, and the career paths you choose.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction; it’s real, and it’s everywhere.

According to LinkedIn’s Future of Work Report, AI Specialist roles have grown by 74 per cent annually over the past four years. At the same time, the International Energy Agency warns that global electricity use by data centres, and AI could double by 2026.

This means two things: first, there is skyrocketing demand for people who can build, manage, and improve AI technologies. Second, we need massive investments in energy to support it.

New data centres are popping up around the world, and every one of them needs engineers, technicians, software developers, cybersecurity experts, and energy specialists.If students today understand the trajectory of AI, they can position themselves at the heart of industries that will dominate the future. Even if you don’t want to become a programmer, learning about AI will be an asset. Imagine being a lawyer who specialises in AI ethics, a teacher who uses AI to personalise education and enhance the experience of students, or a doctor who works with AI to diagnose rare diseases faster than ever before.

POWERING THE NEW WORLD

Climate change is pushing governments and industries to shift towards renewable energy, and the world’s growing appetite for technology. The International Renewable Energy Agency projects that by 2030, there will be 139 million energy jobs globally, with 43 million in renewables like solar, wind, and hydro. Entire new industries are emerging around battery storage, hydrogen energy, and smart grids.

Whether it’s becoming an energy engineer, a policymaker driving clean energy regulations, or an entrepreneur building off grid solutions for rural communities, the options are endless but only for those who are staying informed.

AI in healthcare alone is expected to grow to US$187 billion by 2030. Students entering healthcare today will not practise the same way doctors and nurses did 20 years ago. They will use robotics to assist surgeries, and data analytics to track public health trends.

This matters not just for medical students. Psychologists, public health officers, nutritionists, pharmacists… every branch of health will involve new technologies and new ways of thinking. A 16-year-old today, studying biology but also learning about data science, could become a future leader in digital health.

FEEDING THE FUTURE

The future of food is under threat. By 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach nearly 10 billion people, and food demand will rise by 70 per cent. Yet, climate change, soil degradation, and water shortages are making farming harder.

Modern agriculture is becoming high-tech. The World Bank notes that investments in “climate-smart agriculture” are crucial if we’re going to feed the world sustainably.

Students who tune in now can build careers in agricultural engineering, food technology, agribusiness, sustainable farming, or international food policy. Imagine working to create crops that can survive droughts, designing apps that help farmers predict the best planting times, or launching global programmes to reduce food waste.

Students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. The world is becoming increasing competitive and since breaking the glass (ceiling) of innovation, it has gotten harder to imagine what’s next. Non-traditional careers are among the fastest rising and highest paid, and the evolution continues. Students must be taught to be part of the solution, and they should also understand that the problem they will solve, may not be something we can anticipate.

Industries, investors, and policymakers depend on the students of today to understand the trends, look at sectors that your country is seeking to invest in and what opportunities and capacity gaps may exist in the future.

LENEKA SCOTT

Ambassador of the Governor

General’s I Believe Initiative