The current workforce is undergoing tremendous pressure from the rapid advancement of technology, evolving global business environment, unpredictable geopolitical development and changing demographics and social values. These forces have disrupted business models resulting in a significant impact on the workplace. And with changing talent requirements, critical knowledge and skills of the future will need to be identified and acquired.

The advent of artificial intelligence-enabled by the Internet of things and powered by superfast 5G wireless networks are offering various opportunities to businesses in local and global markets. In Malaysia, the government launched its National Policy on Industry 4.0 or IR4.0 in 2018 to drive the digital transformation of the business sector so as to enable organisations to be more competitive in the foreseeable future. As such, organisations face the challenge of upgrading their workforce to be ready for this new environment.

For students and those currently working, how does this development affect their pursuit of education and reskilling respectively? What knowledge and skills should they seek to acquire to be ready for the future workplace?