Are digital natives ready to work in a digitally transformed work environment? University students' perspective

Abstract

The digital transformation is radically changing and will continue to change the work environment and culture. Solutions such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and data analytics, cloud computing, conversational systems, robotics as well as virtual and augmented reality have revolutionized the way we work and the needs and requirements of employees. Completely new goals for work, tasks, and workspace emerge, as well as new challenges to organization, qualifications, employment, and leadership. There are also numerous threats related to the protection of personal data, digital identity management, and cybersecurity, but also in the area of physical and mental health protection against threats resulting from the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). How do “digital natives” deal with these challenges? The study analyses how students perceive the place of digital competencies in the context of the competencies of the future and how they evaluate their own digital competencies.The authors conducted a questionnaire survey among students (n = 755) of various faculties, forms of study, and with various professional experience.As the results show, students see the importance of digital competencies, but they rate their own competencies relatively low in this area.Based on the results of the research, recommendations were formulated regarding the shaping of digital competencies among students at universities.