Professional Skills in ICT: An Essay Analysis and Discussion

This essay examines the critical professional skills required in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It begins by exploring the importance of a shift from conventional to a student-centric learning approach, highlighting skills like teamwork, decisiveness, and communication. The essay then discusses ICT skills for professional accountants, detailing the significance of business automation and office management skills. It further explores the use of e-projects in developing ICT skills, emphasizing the benefits of this method. The essay also identifies the importance of ICT for fresh graduates and the relevant skills required in various sectors. Finally, it touches upon the impact of ICT on the health sector, outlining essential skills for professionals in this field. The essay draws upon multiple sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the professional skills necessary for success in the evolving landscape of ICT, and discusses how these skills can be developed and applied across different industries.

Running head: ESSAY
Professional Skills for ICT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1ESSAY
Llorens, A., Berbegal-Mirabent, J., & Llinàs-Audet, X. (2016). Aligning professional skills
and active learning methods: an application for information and communications
technology engineering. European Journal of Engineering Education, 1-14.
This article proposes a shift from conventional to a student centric learning approach for
the development of professional skills where the focus is given on the student’s role during the
learning. According to this article, the skill that are required for information and communication
technology in the companies are capacity for teamwork, decisiveness, client focus, commitment
to learning, proactive approach, commitment to the company, innovativeness, flexibility, ability
to find information and good communication skills. Several teaching methods can be
implemented to obtain these skills which according to their usefulness. They are Lecture, case
study, problem solving exercises, problem based learning, project based learning, cooperative
learning and learning contract. The problem and project based learning has potential to develop
five skills out of the ten referred in the article. Whereas, case study is useful for improving each
of the single skills mentioned. On the other hand, cooperative learning and the learning contact
contributes in developing the skills such as client focus and commitment to the company.
According to the findings, a combination of project-based learning and learning contract
methods can fulfill the market demands by enhancing the key generic skills that are required by
the information and communication industries.
Wessels, P. L. (2005). Critical information and communication technology (ICT) skills for
professional accountants. Meditari: Research Journal of the School of Accounting
Sciences, 13(1), 87-103.

2ESSAY
Information and communication technology is important in every business at present time
for its development. There are various grounds where ICT can be used and accountancy is one of
them. The professional accountants require some of the important skills to perform their tasks
properly. On to it, there are various professional bodies in a single organization that looks after
the accountancy department. Operating system, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation
software, internet tools, research tools, image processing software are some the skills that are
categorized under the business automation skills. Whereas, the knowledge required for using ICT
in office management are database software, database search and retrieval, accounting software,
tax return preparation software, time management and billing systems, knowledge work systems.
There are many more skills that are required in other fields of ICT. In modern world with the
boom in technology, information and communication technology is seen as one of the key driver
in changing and operating factor of business environment. International Federation of Account
acknowledge the importance of training and development of these skills of the professional
accountants as evidenced by the in the International Education Standards and the information
technology guideline.
Yulia V. Krasavina, & M. Aiman Al Akkad. (2014). DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH E-
PROJECTS. Obrazovanie I Nauka, (10), 93-104.
There are various advantages of using e-project as a method to develop the professional
information and communication skills. The intention of utilizing the e-project is to make the
student perform different tasks in ICT to develop their skills individually. It helps in developing
transversal skills, problem solving through ICT, intellectual competency and many more. It also
provides direct impact of the skills via practice with more informative feedback. There are

3ESSAY
several steps that are required in a e-project to gain the knowledge and skills with specific
deadlines to keep them under pressure to make the learning process faste. They are preparatory,
learning, research and design and control and assessment. The implementation of the project
shows some positive results that are verified by both the students and the teachers where 79% of
the students show noticeable improvement. Improvement in ESP skills are also noticed after
conducting the study. The learning proved is capability n both motivating, effective and it
develops student’s ICT skills an cross curricular knowledge.
Shaw, G. (2008). Information communication technology at university : Skills for success.
Darwin: Charles Darwin University Press.
In this article, author clearly identifies the importance of information and communication
technology for the fresh graduates in the real world. Almost every sector requires some amount
of knowledge in ICT from their employees. The universities are now focusing in providing the
knowledge and skill to the students. Their course includes some of the skills such as internet and
email, word processing, spreadsheets, packaging information, integrating computer applications,
tools web 2.0 and other tools. These basic skills are relevant in every sector and every business
in one or other aspects of the business. For example, a receptionist requires at least the
knowledge of word for performing their tasks. Some of the skills required in the office sectors
are proficiency in using productive software, electronic Communication skills, internet skills and
many more. Software skills can be stated as the most important of these them as it requires more
in-depth knowledge of software handling than any other field.
Costello, E., Corcoran, M. A., Barnett, J. S., Birkmeier, M. C., Cohn, R., Ekmekci, O., ... &
Walker, B. (2014). Information and communication technology to facilitate learning for

4ESSAY
students in the health professions: Current uses, gaps, and future directions. Online
Learning: Official Journal of the Online Learning Consortium, 18.
The globalization and developed technology has leaded the business organization models
to become more complex with the use of information and communication technology. ICT is
potential in changing the education system with relation to the real world occupation. As the
business organizations are seeking employees with developed professional knowledge and skills
in ICT, the education models in school and colleges have changed accordingly. Another sector
that is affected by the use of ICT is the health sector. Some of the relevant skills that are required
in the field are use of the technology in storing, gathering, retrieving, analyzing, transmitting,
processing and receiving information. Enhancement of these required skills help to prepare the
students for professional sector. It enables them to handle the work place and handle different
information in the health sectors like recording and keeping update of the patient’s information,
handling the equipments, tracking ambulances and many more.

5ESSAY
References
Costello, E., Corcoran, M. A., Barnett, J. S., Birkmeier, M. C., Cohn, R., Ekmekci, O., ... &
Walker, B. (2014). Information and communication technology to facilitate learning for
students in the health professions: Current uses, gaps, and future directions. Online
Learning: Official Journal of the Online Learning Consortium, 18.
Llorens, A., Berbegal-Mirabent, J., & Llinàs-Audet, X. (2016). Aligning professional skills and
active learning methods: an application for information and communications technology
engineering. European Journal of Engineering Education, 1-14.
Shaw, G. (2008). Information communication technology at university : Skills for success.
Darwin: Charles Darwin University Press.
Wessels, P. L. (2005). Critical information and communication technology (ICT) skills for
professional accountants. Meditari: Research Journal of the School of Accounting
Sciences, 13(1), 87-103.
Yulia V. Krasavina, & M. Aiman Al Akkad. (2014). DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH E-
PROJECTS. Obrazovanie I Nauka, (10), 93-104.