Sustainability Profession Scrambles To Fill ‘Extreme Gap’ in Digital Skills To Harness Power of AI

By Catherine Early

Published 12-06-24

Submitted by IBM

" " — Associate Professor Juan Helen Zhou (in black) and PhD student, Zijiao Chen (in white) from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), look at MRI brain scans of a participant in mind-reading AI study, in Singapore August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Travis Teo

Originally published by Industry Insight from Ethical Corporation Magazine, a part of Thomson Reuters.

IBM runs a free online education platform offering more than 1,000 courses in 20 languages, covering AI, cybersecurity, data analysis and cloud computing. IBM SkillsBuild targets adult learners, high school and university students and staff, and aims to support educating communities underrepresented in the technology sector such as women and people on low incomes.

In November 2023, it launched new sustainability skills courses under SkillsBuild. Each learner receives AI-powered recommendations, while interdisciplinary coursework connects topics such as ecology and biodiversity with training in AI and data analytics. Introductory courses teach the connections between sustainability and technology through historical insights, while advanced coursework will ask learners to apply skills to sustainability topics across AI, cybersecurity and ESG reporting.

Demands for this type of training is growing, according to IBM chief impact officer Justina Nixon-Saintil.

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" " — A satellite image shows sandbanks exposed due to drought at the Tefe lake in Amazonas state. REUTERS

" " — Workers monitor processes at a lithium production plant. Many technical professionals already use iterations of AI in their work. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto

" " — Integrating use of generic tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT into day-to-day work can boost digital literacy. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

IBM

Innovation – joining invention and insight to produce important, new value – is at the heart of what we are as a company. And, today, IBM is leading an evolution in corporate citizenship by contributing innovative solutions and strategies that will help transform and empower our global communities.

Our diverse and sustained programs support education, workforce development, arts and culture, and communities in need through targeted grants of technology and project funds. To learn more about our work in the context of IBM's broader corporate responsibility efforts, please visit Innovations in Corporate Responsibility.

Sustainability Profession Scrambles To Fill ‘Extreme Gap’ in Digital Skills To Harness Power of AI

Sustainability Profession Scrambles To Fill ‘Extreme Gap’ in Digital Skills To Harness Power of AI

IBM

IBM

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