Our goal was to find which technical data systems skills are valued in industry roles in Finland, and use that knowledge to update data systems course contents. In addition to industry perspective, we investigated which societal data skills are important and how such skills should be taught in higher education.
Industry perspective
The industry perspective on important data skills was investigated with an online survey and complementary interviews. We targeted the survey and interviews for professionals working with data or databases in organizations operating in Finland. The survey utilized a list of 24 data systems skills which were recognized in an earlier study.
The results show that the most valued data systems skills are SQL language, data modeling, cloud computing and data pipelines. Additionally, industry valued modern database technologies, non-relational data models, software development frameworks and data governance. Valued non-technical skills included, for example, domain knowledge, collaboration and interaction skills.
The most valued data systems skills are SQL language, data modeling, cloud computing and data pipelines.
Societal perspective
The information landscape is rapidly changing with the rising prominence of phenomena such as misinformation, data literacy, and ethical use of data. The goal of the societal perspective was to understand the importance of non-technical data skills within society and to find ways to teach these skills in higher education.
The results highlight that skills such as recognizing misinformation and critically assessing data quality are increasingly essential. Data today shapes opinions and decisions, yet its reliability is often uncertain. Similarly, understanding data privacy and sharing was seen as crucial, as nearly all digital content can be used for profiling. Many participants emphasized that non-technical data skills should be introduced much earlier than in higher education. However, they can also be effectively developed at the university level through case studies, exercises in assessing reliability, and by encouraging students to challenge their own assumptions.
Overview and future plans
The results provide timely and specific insight into which data systems skills are currently most valued in the job markets and which are considered outdated or irrelevant in the Finnish industry and society. These results help us as teachers to guide the contents of data systems teaching to better meet industry needs. Societal results are being compared to university’s common learning outcomes, as those skills are integrated into all degree programs.
Authors
Written by Nea Peltola and Toni Taipalus for the Troxartes project. The project facilitates industry-academia collaboration with the goal of equipping graduates with the skills needed for today’s data systems jobs.
