Coding Education: Upskilling for the Digital Era
- Recent surveys found that there is significant demand for upskilling the workforce in the digital era
- Estimates say the number of people learning coding in Hong Kong will reach one million in the coming five years
By Tommie Lo, Founder and CEO, Preface
A recent global study from Google indicated that more than 64% of international companies and 51% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong have encountered difficulties in hiring innovative and technologically minded talents. The same study found that nearly 90% of Hong Kong companies need to strengthen the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and related professional knowledge for their employees.
Another study from a regional HR platform, Human Resources Online, indicated that more than half of employees surveyed (55%) had sought out external resources to upskill themselves, helping them to keep up with latest trends to remain competitive in the workforce. This was especially true for employees of SMEs below the age of 40. Technology skills, such as AI and software proficiency are among the top three skills employees were seeking externally in order to upskill or re-skill themselves.
These survey results show there is significant demand for upskilling the workforce in the digital era, which is where companies such as Preface step into the picture. As an EdTech company, Preface was founded on the belief that there are ways to enhance the popularisation of technologies and coding education, allowing more people to be equipped with the advanced technical skills needed to thrive in today’s new economy.
Technology is developing at a faster pace than humans can learn. Learning to code is equivalent to learning the “grammar” of the future to help us become better connected and better educated in order to improve our quality of life.
Indeed, technology has already become deeply embedded in our day-to-day lives. We now rely on technologies for data analysis, finance, health, education- in every aspect of our lives. Coding has become the basic language of all kinds of technology. It helps people from understanding errors in mobile devices to innovating new ideas that could change the world.
For those interested in upskilling themselves to adapt to this world of fast-changing digital transformation, learning to code can equip them to become part of the future-proof talents that can drive the constantly evolving technology sector.
2. How does the Preface solution work?
Preface focuses on providing personalised education solutions to global students. We hope to make coding and related knowledge accessible by active knowledge sharing via multiple platforms, and providing an immersive learning environment that helps to make coding part of people’s daily lives.
We are partnering with international and local universities to create compulsory programmes and share the latest industry trends with teachers and students. And we also host programmes that are suitable for students from different backgrounds, as well as advocating our “decentralised classroom delivery model” to change the public’s perception about what format education should take. We also partner with different organisations to arrange seminars and workshops, such as our Future Symposium Series where speakers from different backgrounds are invited to share coding trends and developments in various industries.
In addition, Preface has become a strong advocate for integrating coding learning into daily life, providing spaces where people can spend time to enrich themselves with new technological knowledge and enjoy a nice cup of coffee or glass of wine at the same time. Our ambition is to build a truly immersive experience and environment for technology education.
3. Who should learn coding?
At Preface, we believe that there isn’t a thing that cannot be learnt, you have just yet to find the right environment. Our courses are suitable for everyone from three-year-old kids to C-suite executives of multinational companies. Our programmes are designed to pave a progressive learning path for students to put theory into practice and build a solid profile as a coder.
Besides coding knowledge, younger learners can also train up their design thinking and computational thinking, which have been recognised by many as being critical 21st-century competencies to underpin students’ long-term educational and career success. For adults, the coding skill sets can enable them to travel and work around the world as coding becomes the universal language of future technology.
4. Why should people choose a Preface coding course?
We believe that no two learners are the same. By collecting and analysing learning data from individual students, we provide ever-improving curricula using AI-powered learning materials that can provide students with suitable lesson plans depending on their personal goals and objectives.
Our curricula have been developed by certified trainers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), helping Preface Coding to become the first Asian teaching platform to win an award at EdTechXEurope.
Our smart matching system evaluates students’ backgrounds, traits and learning styles, matching them with the instructor that suits their needs. With a strict recruitment process and top-notch training for our instructors, Preface students are able to learn in the most personalised classes offering a student-centred approach.
Estimates say the number of people learning coding in Hong Kong will reach one million in the coming five years. As coding becomes ever more prevalent in the city, now is the time to think about making yourself future-ready.