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Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human smart processes by machines, specifically computer systems. These processes include learning, reasoning and self-correction. Most learning institutions offer a course or more under this umbrella term that encompasses everything from robotic process automation to actual robotics. Due to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, which makes it possible for machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs and perform human-like tasks, there is a greater need for people to study in this field. The learning of machines from experience provides systems with the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. This describes systems that make predictions using a model trained on real-world data. An example of such a system is Google Maps, which predicts the volume of traffic along a specific route, estimates travel time and time of arrival. It achieves this by analysing data collected from historical traffic patterns and comparing it to live traffic conditions. The point of these processes is to go from data to insight – from raw, unprocessed captured facts, according to certain standards, to analysed information with which to understand the context of a situation to reach a specific conclusion. These training dataset include inputs and correct outputs, which allow the models to continue learning over the course of time. Ultimately, this optimises models for accuracy, improves model performance and saves retraining time by making models auto-adaptive. This is referred to as ‘smart technology’. In most cases, smart technology will not be sold as an individual application, rather, products already in use will be improved with smart capabilities. These capabilities include human-like capabilities, where machines have the potential to replace humans, such as with travel agents. Before the Internet, many people worked as travel agents to help find, arrange and book the best deal for travelling. Today, with the Internet and computers, travellers can do this themselves without needing a travel agent. Additionally, robots controlled by computers are replacing jobs that involve packing or moving goods. An example is the Amazon robots that have taken over the process of moving all products to people who then package and mail them to customers. These are just some of the examples of how machines are replacing human jobs. Although the thought of this is unsettling, there are many benefits for humans from artificial intelligence which are enjoyed every day from almost every sector without recognition. For example, in the banking sector, it can identify transactions that are likely to be fraudulent, adopt fast and accurate credit scoring, as well as automate manually intense data management tasks. In the healthcare sector, artificial intelligence is virtually improving every aspect of the industry, from robot-assisted surgeries to safeguarding private records against cybercriminals. With the advancement of technology, there are threats and there are benefits. Studying a course in the field of artificial intelligence will broaden horizons and make a career possible in several different directions which can have a real impact on human lives through various industries.

The 1950s was the decade in which technological innovations resulted in the rapid improvement of mass communication. It is at the end of this decade that television had replaced radio, newspapers and magazines as the primary source of information and entertainment for most Americans. In 1959, the term ‘machine learning’ was coined by Arthur Samuel who was a pioneer in the field of computer gaming and artificial intelligence (AI). Machine learning is not a new concept but has gained a lot of momentum in recent years through the expanding collection of data, affordable processing power and inexpensive storage. A machine learning course, as an area of AI and computer science, promises a smarter connection between humans and computer systems through intelligent interactions. Topics such as the development of software and algorithms that can make predictions based on data are covered in this course. Machine learning further enables computer systems to make predictions or decisions using historical data or experiences without being explicitly programmed. It is a powerful tool that can be applied to almost any problem, such as, theoretically, smarter non-player characteristics (NPC) in computer games. These characters in a game are not controlled by any person playing, nor by any form of AI, and they are usually not meant to act like real people. NPC are different from central processing unit (CPU) characters, which are built to act like humans in games, but that’s a topic for another day. Machine learning makes predictions by constructing algorithms that look for and recognise patterns in data through previously collected data. Implementations of these algorithms are trained on a set of training data, allowing them to improve themselves. The training data is the same kind of data that is to be supplied to the running program, along with the desired result. The program then assesses its own performance and adjusts to improve. A speech recognition device is an ideal example of devices that learn by recognising patterns in data. It converts audio from a speech recording into a single sound and finds the most probable word in a specific language through the use of algorithms. Those sounds are then translated into text, enhancing human communication for people with hearing issues. If more people were to study this machine learning course, as a human race, we would stand a chance to benefit greatly in various sectors, including the social and health sectors. We could expect an acceleration in technological advancement from the effective use of machine learning.

As with any other field of study, certain admission requirements have to be met when pursuing a career in IT. These requirements vary according to specific courses and institutions. A career in this area of study can broaden one’s work opportunities as it influences all forms of human activities. There are many benefits to choosing a career in this field, such as the ability to combine one’s career with personal interests, it provides prospects of a good income, and it is one of the professions in high demand. If you would enjoy working in an environment where you’re encouraged to never stop learning, IT is for you. Combining this profession with your interests would provide adequate motivation to devote great effort to developing more relevant knowledge and skills, setting higher occupation-related goals, and taking action to achieve those goals. Godfrey Hounsfield, the man behind the invention of the computerised tomography (CT) scan machine, is one of the many exemplary people who aligned their interests with their careers – combining his passion with his ambition. Organisations are aware that staff members’ passion in their selected work fields can boost performance and productivity. Thus, they strive to cultivate it. That’s not all. Most companies are aware that technology changes at the speed of light, which is why many of them are prepared to heavily invest in securing top-talented and highly skilled IT personnel. Reasons for organisations to want to keep up with these changes vary from needing the latest cyber-security, improving customer service, staying ahead of competitors and many others. They are prepared to pay good salaries for proper and adequate skills and the continuous development of those skills. There is an opportunity for personal growth for individuals in this profession. It is at the discretion of the organisations how they implement professional development. While some may financially contribute towards the continued education of their personnel, some may have processes that encourage workers to further educate themselves. Education can also be in the form of pursuing in-demand skills through additional courses, field exposure and many other ways to expand knowledge and capabilities. Individuals who do this can be sure that they are setting themselves apart from the other candidates. The current digital transformation which is accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic has created broader opportunities for contemporary IT innovations and solutions. In this growing sector, there is a greater demand for adaptable people with relevant education and expertise in the various disciplines of this area of study. Future IT professionals are individuals who are always eager to learn something new. There is a need to source the best individuals, and organisations are standing in line to grab hold of them with high-end remuneration packages. It should not take much to convince potential students to pursue a career in this area of study. All they need to do is enrol to study IT at a reputable and accredited institution to start their journey.

It was Don Norman who defined ‘User Experience’ as encompassing all aspects of the end user’s interaction with the company, its services and its products. The field of user experience represents an expansion and extension of the field of usability, to include the holistic perspective of how a person feels about using a system. The focus is on pleasure and value as well as on performance. The best user experience practices promote the improvement of the interaction quality and perceptions of the product and any related services. To achieve this simply means creating a website/system that works as expected (or better) and meets the user’s needs at the right time and place. Highly specialised applications can easily fall into a trap of using highly technical jargon that only experts may understand and that can take away the pleasure and compromise the value of the experience for the user. An exceptional user experience speaks to the user with words they understand and can act on. Signing up team members for a UX (User Experience) design course is something worth investing in because it aims to provide positive experiences that keep users loyal to the organisation’s products or brand, and improves the possibilities of new customer acquisition. Another course consideration for the same team is to study a UI (User Interface) qualification which would serve as an advantage because it is a common language that everyone will be discussing at some point in the processes of design and development. Some of the organisations which have established UX design as a pivotal element of their business strategies have succeeded in transforming followers into ardent fans who ultimately promote their products and services. This adds value by assisting companies to achieve their objectives. Organisations are currently placing great emphasis on the UX factors that impact the business’s performance, and anything that does not is regarded as a waste of time and resources. These factors, which include accessibility, speed and usability, are analysed to identify areas that need actionable tweaks and enhancements. It is after the implementation of these modifications that the product’s user experience should show improvement when re-analysed. Poor performance of a website, at any course of the interaction, has the potential to undermine every aspect of the whole experience between the computer and the human. Getting the human-computer interaction right provides the product/brand with a much better chance of succeeding, which will, in turn, contribute to the bottom line of providing the ultimate experience for the users.

When it comes to making a career choice, it is not only about choosing what to do but it is also about who you are. An inquisitive mind, an interest in how things are created and how you can improve them can be an indication that you may follow your destiny through studying one of the many Information Technology courses available on the market. The question of how soon you can start to study in this field can easily or not so easily be answered depending on what you are looking at. While some children will show interest in I.T. from a very young age, out of curiosity or influence by the surrounding factors, others will develop their interest as they grow older. Their innovativeness may grow simultaneously with their interest, or one will follow the other. Fact is, there is no age to start! Still, there are requirements to be met if this is to be studied formally. The pre-requisite for admission at tertiary level is Mathematics in Grade 12 or alternatively possession of a technical equivalent qualification to register for a course and follow a career in this field. The entry percentage mark may differ from one institution to another, but the Department of Higher Education is the body that sets the basic entry percentage. Belgium Campus iTversity offers a Mathematics BridgingProgrammeto assist those who did not achieve the mark to gain entry into this course. This is another way of ensuring that potential students can enrol for Information Technology courses. There are various Information Technology courses to choose from and you need to have sufficient information to make a wise choice which will suit you. Educators are able to plant seeds of knowledge and incite interest in the field for many learners. It is one of the best non-intrusive ways from which career guidance can take shape, from an early age. However, the educators alone cannot ensure that the learners grow interest in this sphere of learning. Organisations need to come to the party and be part of the learners’ role models while they are still in school. This can be achieved through showcasing what they do and how students who study Information Technology courses would fit into their organisation, and maybe select students to groom for their organisational future interests. It would make it easier for learners to understand the broadness of I.T. and that there is a future for all in I.C.T. While this advice is aimed at other organisations, Belgium Campus iTversity has taken itself to task to lead this movement through working together with secondary school principals to collectively come up with ways to mould learners into potential future leaders. With an increasing need for qualified people in this digitalera and the availability of variousqualificationsin this field, the future looks brighter with every innovation.

The information and communication technologies sector has experienced a skills shortage for many years, calling for dynamic education and training initiatives. The spread of computing services in all sectors has proved to be a major employment driver. Belgium Campus iTversity has taken the lead and tailored relevant IT courses which are aimed at empowering students and alleviating this shortage. By focusing and coming up with intelligent ways of closing the digital gap between the students and the industry, we have a better chance of producing needed, highly skilled and work-ready individuals. At an organisational level, the effective use of ICT for information management is difficult without having appropriately skilled employees. The lack of expertise may have negative implications on the overall productivity of staff and on the profit turnover. Some organisations are taking initiative in an attempt to avoid this by investing in staff training programmes, which may include courses specifically in Organisation Information Management. It is a good initiative which benefits both the organisation and the personal development of individuals. However, if organisations had highly competent and well-trained interns or employees from the onset, it would enable businesses to effectively manage their information and as a result put them at the forefront of increased productivity and potential for a higher turnover. Belgium Campus iTversity, a private higher education institution, constantly engages with the industry to stay abreast of the most recent developments in technology. This collaboration assists in the process of producing industry-ready graduates with high-quality Information Technology qualifications. These graduates hit the ground running when they start at an organisation and do not need much additional training to become productive employees. This is partly made possible by the feedback received from the industry, which is used to decide what must be included or removed from the curriculum and the structure of the IT courses offered. Belgium Campus iTversity believes in adapting and evolving at the speed that IT changes. Adapting and evolving add sustainable value to the industry, which is one of the things at the top of our agenda. We believe that increasing the employability of people should be approached from a holistic point of view of balancing theory and practical work in academic qualifications. We encourage and promote the involvement of corporate companies in working together with higher learning institutions, schools and communities in developing various youth competencies. Through this consistent collaboration with the industry, and the highly employable graduates that Belgium Campus produces, the gap between the unemployment rate and the skills shortage can decrease over time.