Digital Technologies

Tales of the Unexpected: reflections on the Digital Futures of Work Research Programme

When we began our studies in August 2019 there was a lot of media hype about robots taking jobs following studies claiming almost half of American workers could find themselves surplus to requirements as digital technologies including AI, robotics, etc., were getting smarter at doing our jobs. At the beginning …

From K-pop and K-drama to ‘K-learning cities’: lessons for the digital era

In recent years, South Korea has been gaining more and more attention in the global market in many areas: for example, K-pop, K-drama and K-food. This was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were forced to switch their living space from offline to online and spend more time watching …

Reimagining Human Capital in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Research Seminar, 19 May 2022

Professor Phillip Brown discussed the different interpretations of the fourth industrial revolution and the role of digital technologies in (re)shaping the future of work, education, and labour markets. The research seminar was organised on 19th May 2022 by the International Labour organisation.</span > The human capital story is one of …

Digital Workplace 4.0 Conference 2022 organised by the Singapore University of Technology on 12 May 2022

Ms Sahara Sadik shared insights and findings on digital technologies, corporate talent management, and the risks of new inequalities in Singapore at the Digital Workplace 4.0 Conference 2022. The hybrid conference, organised by the Singapore University of Technology and Design, was held on 12 May 2022 at Park Royal Hotel, …

There’s a lot at stake in the future of work: a reminder that technology is not destiny

All industrial revolutions are characterised by changes in the nature of work. This is not just a change in the types of jobs people do to earn a living – from farm labourer to factory worker to computer software engineer, etc. – but also changes in the role of work …

Working Paper 2: Education, technology and the future of work in the fourth industrial revolution

It is widely believed that digital technologies are transforming all aspects of economy and society, driven by advances across a number of interdisciplinary fields and new technologies such as, artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, synthetic biology, and smart materials. Public debate has largely focused on the threat of large-scale technological unemployment, …

Working Paper 1: Digital futures of work: reimagining jobs, skills and education for the digital age

Digital innovation is widely recognised as a game changer. Despite attention-grabbing headlines of robots outsmarting humans leading to widespread technological unemployment and counter claims that technology will create more good jobs than it destroys just like in previous epochs, there has been little systematic analysis or evaluation of exactly how …