There has nary been an industry that hasn’t been caught up in the rush to recruit as much AI talent as they can in the past few years, but perhaps few have such a pressing need as the automotive sector. Software engineers famously make up around 80% of the Tesla workforce, and it’s estimated that self-driving cars will require around one billion lines of code to function.
To try and ensure they have access to the right skills, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) operate their 4×4 In Schools program, with the Technology Challenge world finals showcasing the ability of teenage participants, who were able to write 200 lines of code in half an hour and successfully move a scale model Range Rover around an indoor track.
The project coincides with the Digital Skills Apprenticeship program launched this year by JLR, which aims to help the company attract the best computer scientists to help them generate the next-generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.
“Computer engineering and software skills are more important than ever in the rapidly changing automotive industry, and that will only increase as we see more autonomous, connected and electric vehicles on the roads. The UK will need 1.2 million more people with specialist digital skills by 2022, and as a technology company, it’s our job to help inspire and develop the next generation of technically curious and pioneering digital engineers. The Land Rover 4×4 In Schools Technology Challenge is just one of the ways we are doing this, as well as our new Digital Skills Apprenticeship programme we are launching this year,” the company explain.
Digital skills
The 4×4 in Schools program has already helped around 4 million young people since it was launched in 2000, with the world finals this year attracting 110 students from 14 different countries to the event, held at the University of Warwick. The NewGen Motors team, from Greece, were ultimately victorious.
“Coding is high on the agenda across industry and teachers do a fantastic job delivering the curriculum, but schools have competing priorities and are hamstrung by limited budgets and time. The private sector, and programmes like Land Rover 4×4 In Schools, have a real opportunity to bridge the gap between what learners enjoy studying and how that translates into a future career,” JLR say.
Tesla are showing how the shift towards digital motoring is transforming the sector and allowing completely new business models to emerge. It will be interesting to see whether the 4×4 In Schools program helps to keep JLR at the forefront of that transformation.
