16 Technology-Related Courses That are a Game Changer for Kenyan Youth

16 Technology Courses That are a Game Changer for Kenyan Youth

By Soko Directory Team / Published July 7, 2022 | 5:17 pm

KEY POINTS

We have come a long way. What we defined as cutting edge tech in the early 2000s now sounds like medieval solutions. In 2022, there are way more tech trends that will always shape businesses and create jobs for the youth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Going by the major developments experienced in the tech sector the past few years, one can expect faster and better developments in the foreseeable future. It is, therefore, safe to say that keeping an eye out for these trends is no longer a necessity for IT professionals only.
They make the ideal solutions for Kenyan youth in the fast-evolving business world. And it is imperative to continually learn and upskill as the demand for trained professionals with the right skill sets will never go out of trend.

The world is moving quickly, with innovation across all industries continually shaping all ecosystems. And at the heart of it all is technology.

We have come a long way. What we defined as a cutting-edge tech in the early 2000s now sounds like medieval solutions. In 2022, there are way more tech trends that will continually shape businesses and create jobs for the youth.

Currently, the global digital population has hit 5 billion strong (over 60% of the world population). Therefore, the latest technologies and emerging technological trends matter today more than ever. This is especially the case in Kenya, where most youths are unemployed.

Harnessing the power of tech, and getting the hang of how to utilize them to match their skills, is the only way they can effectively create jobs for themselves and others.

Below is a list of 16 emerging fields that the Kenyan youth should track and try to make the most out of in 2022 as they advance their careers:

AI & ML

Between 2022 and 2029, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20.1%. With such a growth, the market size for AI is bound to experience unprecedented growth.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, AI technology experienced an increased uptake across industries, including the healthcare sector. Various models and tools were innovated to support traditional analytics and decision-making systems.

Honing your skills in this area can pay you well for years to come – primarily because new jobs will be generated in the development, tech support, engineering, and maintenance sectors as the demand for AI and Machine Learning (ML) increases.

Internet of Things (IoT)

In today’s globally connected world, IoT is an all too important technology ideal for creating a network of interconnected devices. IoT enables these connected devices to share real-time data and information with other gadgets.

In the coming years, the world will witness a massive growth in the sector as the amount of data volume for IoT connections increases. The IoT data is projected to hit over 79 zettabytes by 2025. By 2021, the IoT market globally had a valuation of more than USD 260 billion.

The increased adoption of IoT presents a massive opportunity and plenty of job careers for the youth in Kenya and across the globe in industries such as the automotive industry, smart homes, telecommunications, and wearable devices, among others.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is not a new technology. It has been here for a while and has established bold roots across industries. Today, many enterprises face many cyberattacks resulting from AI-enabled phishing and malware providing backdoors to servers – leading to severe consequences such as revenue or data loss.

A career in cybersecurity, therefore, is a lucrative opportunity to provide solutions to these issues. However, one needs to constantly upgrade their skills to keep up with the developments in the sector.

Statistics show that in 2021, the global cybersecurity workforce will consist of over 4 million professionals. In the meantime, as the information age progresses and more devices get connected, cybersecurity will always remain a necessity.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Robotic process automation is central to many automated processes and functions in today’s businesses. Much like artificial intelligence, RPA is a threat to jobs as many industries continue to adopt this tech alongside the use of specialized software.

The market size of RPA is expected to spill over USD 10 billion by 2023. This provides an excellent opportunity for those with this skill to advance their careers as programmers, analysts, and developers.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

Virtual and augmented reality are emerging technologies providing upgraded experiences that combine virtual and real worlds with enhanced 3D images.

VR and AR are largely utilized in the gaming industry today. The industry revenue from VR gaming alone is set to hit USD 2.4 billion by 2024.

But e-commerce platforms, marketing, education, and entertainment, to name a few, are set to benefit significantly from this technology in the future.

Edge Computing

Edge computing is a computing system that unites organizational applications and data sources, including IoT.

As the world’s demand for data accessibility increases, edge computing is establishing a foot in many industries. It is emerging as the ideal means of gaining significant business benefits and actionable insights.

Better yet, as IoT becomes the next big thing and the number of interconnected devices increases, edge computing is bound to accelerate – making this trend a long-term opportunity for anyone looking to advance their careers.

5G is a technology that has received a fair share of publicity. It is currently the most talked about and the most advanced mobile broadband tech that has already been implemented in some countries.

Tech giants such as Huawei, QualComm, Apple, and Samsung have already implemented 5G. By 2025, the 5G subscriptions will be expected to hit approximately 3 billion. As of 2021, it was expected that the active consumer base would be over 6.5 billion subscriptions.

5G is an essential technology, not just from a career point of view alone, but for consumers as well. It will enhance user experience, change how brands communicate with consumers, and define new communication channels.

Blockchain

From cryptocurrency to dogecoin, NFTs, to Web 3.0, blockchain technology is rapidly changing the world. Blockchain is conventionally termed as an electronic ledger since it offers a decentralized list of connected and verified records.

Globally, the spending on blockchain solutions is projected to hit USD 19 billion by 2024. If anything, these stats indicate that despite being at its earliest stages, blockchain has become a large market on its own.

Of course, this has been exacerbated by the enormous potential the technology presents and the massive financial interest in the possibilities it may offer.

Cloud Computing

Ever since the onset of Covid-19, cloud computing received an unprecedented increase in its uptake as organizations rushed to find online solutions to stay afloat. Most companies went virtual and resorted to delivering their services and goods digitally.

The trend won’t stop, especially now that industries focus on automating processes to cut expenses and minimize operating costs. Cloud computing is the one thing that will shift their focus to competitive differentiation.

According to a McKinsey report, 70% of companies will use hybrid-cloud or multi-cloud platforms by 2022 as a distributed IT infrastructure. This means that the data is processed in the cloud but made accessible to devices faster.

Big Data

Big data broadly refers to the technologies and techniques used to capture and utilize the massively increasing data streams.

The primary utilization of big data is to bring enterprise-wide visibility and insights that allow for rapid decision-making. It helps brands process their information better while enabling them to conclude on areas they need to develop better easily.

ALSO READ: Top 10 Technology Trends That’ll Always Shape Businesses

Also, with the increased adoption of cloud computing, high-speed data analytics will increasingly come in handy in complementing the existing information management systems, software, and other programs to identify implementable solutions from a mass of big data. This is why a course in this tech will never disappear from the market but will only improve.

Web 3.0

The craze for nonfungible tokens (NFTs) has popularized Web 3.0 and decentralization talk. Unlike web 1.0 (where users only interacted with content in a read-only mode) and Web 2.0 (where users can interact with content and contribute), Web 3.0 is another thing altogether.

Web 3.0 is more ‘community-oriented’ where everything is decentralized. A trusted third-party regulatory body does not govern interactions between users. Also, anyone can interact and participate without requiring permission from governments or regulatory bodies.

Web 3.0 is already here and has been manifested through cloud technology, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. The tech is already witnessing the branching out of the crypto VC funding to support startups focused on web 3.0 applications.

These applications include cloud-based payment solutions, NFTs for gaming, internet privacy, enterprise crypto staking, DAOs, and the decentralization of social networks. Data storage, live video streaming, and learning platforms are other examples of web 3.0 applications.

In the meantime, the development of this technology is fueled by the need for a stable and secure decentralized network and AI, to name a few. Between 2016-2021, patent filings and grants soared in web 3.0, backed by corporations such as IBM and Microsoft.

Voice Tech

The world is already shifting toward voice tech, and Google Assistant, Alexa, Cortana, and Siri are excellent examples. Most gadgets today are equipped with this technology – smart speakers as well.

The increased adoption is because of the ease of convenience and affordability. A report once indicated that “voice assistant use reaches critical mass.” By 2022’s end, it is expected that voice search will be one of the main trends in e-commerce.

Nevertheless, it is also applicable to most businesses across the internet. Coupled with machine learning, this technology makes for an excellent skill for anyone looking to advance their career in the tech sector. For instance, developing your own voice app for smart speakers is a great way to grow.

Web/App Development

Internet connectivity enhances or complements big data, machine learning, cloud computing, big data, and many other technologies. As web 3.0 takes root, increased demand for applications that match its needs will be increased.

Developing web applications, particularly progressive web apps (PWAs) in their latest iteration, couldn’t come at a better time. The modern consumer has a short attention span and needs apps that help them load websites faster and others that can work offline.

Companies like Starbucks, Uber, Pinterest, and Twitter have begun using PWAs for a better user experience.

In January 2021, mobile devices accounted for 54% of global internet traffic. This means that with the increased usage of smartphones and such gadgets to perform online tasks, it is essential to revamp the existing web applications to match the speed and the demand for convenience. Therefore, a course in this field provides a lucrative opportunity for many jobless Kenyan youths.

Game Dev

Being a game developer today is one of the most profitable jobs ever. It is one of the industries that benefitted the most from the Covid-19 pandemic, which raked in about 3.2 billion gamers across the globe by the close of 2021. The industry is poised to generate revenue worth USD 196 billion at the close of 2022.

The gaming evolution runs parallel to technological advancement. It relies heavily on innovative tools and software. With new services and tech, there will be more trends to keep an eye on as time progresses.

Good examples include mobile gaming, which drives the highest revenue, blockchain gaming, Extended Reality (XR) and AR/VR Gaming (based on new technologies such as the metaverse), and Cloud-Based Gaming (Gaming as a Service). These technologies will further define the industry.

DevOps

The fusion of development and operations, also known as DevOps, has been around for nearly a decade – but it has only improved. In fact, research by Global Market Insights shows some promising numbers for DevOps future: “DevOps Market size exceeded $4 billion in 2019, and is poised to grow at over 20% CAGR between 2020 and 2026.”

It is a huge but not wholly formed market, which means the market has great potential. Its importance is further enhanced by the fact that DevOps technology trends include artificial intelligence, machine learning, intelligent process automation, advanced analytics, and robotic process automation (RPA).

A survey by Accenture indicates that 94% of IT and business experts reported that these emerging technologies have accelerated firms’ innovation pace in the last three years. As a result, DevOps is bound to grow more, advancing the way high-quality software is delivered and paving the way for better convenience and user experience.

Advanced Analytics

The market for advanced data analytics is enhanced by other techs such as data science, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence. As more enterprises adopt data-driven models to streamline their solutions, the data analytics industry will experience humongous growth.

Organizations are inclining more toward data analytics, from accelerating fact-based decision-making to implementing data-driven solutions and expanding data-focused product offerings.

Some trends in advanced analytics include augmented analytics, data fabric, edge computing, agile and composed data analytics, and AI. Notably, the skill is an indispensable cog in today’s industries.

Parting Thoughts

Going by the significant developments experienced in the tech sector over the past few years, one can expect faster and better outcomes in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is safe to say that keeping an eye out for these trends is no longer necessary for IT professionals only.

They make the ideal solutions for Kenyan youth in the fast-evolving business world. And it is imperative to continually learn and upskill as the demand for trained professionals with the right skill sets will never go out of trend.

About Soko Directory Team

Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system.Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

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