We’re living in a world that is awash with change, so it stands to reason that having the ability to drive that change will stand us in good stead for whatever the future may have in store for us.  It’s perhaps no surprise, therefore, that new research from Flinders University reminds us that innovation skills are likely to be crucial in the future of work, and can help to protect us from the threat of automation.

“While there is some fear that robots and artificial intelligence may replace some occupations, workers will remain relevant in a fast-changing career landscape if they are innovative, able to spot opportunities that can transform industries and provide creative solutions to meet global challenges,” the researchers say.

The researchers advocate Work Integrated Learning (WIL) as an approach that can help to develop these capabilities.  The findings emerged after students innovation capabilities were tested before and after a prolonged exposure to WIL placements at a business.

Key skills

The research found that a number of skills were crucial to innovation, including problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication.  The research was also able to identify the aspects of the WIL programs that were most beneficial in the nurturing of new innovations.

“Reaping the benefits of industry 4.0 requires a focus on the human factors,” the researchers say. “Innovation is needed to transition the workforce effectively. This will not only ensure that workers can effectively and confidently use the new technologies but also that they survive and thrive in a quickly changing workplace.”

The researchers then tested the effectiveness of current attempts to upskill the workforce via a questionnaire given to those already participating in the WIL program.  It’s a process they believe provides a quantitative measure of the development of innovation capability within people.

“Results from this tool can feed back into WIL program development to enhance student preparation and support for skill development,” they say. “It will also be useful in offering feedback to students on their career progression, self-awareness and empowerment for their development. For industry and a community looking for innovative solutions to address challenges facing the areas of health, food, environment, manufacturing and the economy, the interaction of talented students with industries and businesses will prove highly beneficial.”

The team hope that their work will be used to further the collaboration between academia and industry to ensure that the workers of tomorrow have the skills they need to succeed.

“In an era increasingly characterized by artificial intelligence, rather than fearing the robot, attention is needed on equipping the workforce with innovation skills for the future of work,” they conclude.