Interdisciplinary Competencies Needed for Engineers in the Digital Economy

Abstract

The analysis of trends and forecasts of changes in digital and non-digital skills and competencies demanded by employers and determining the future professional success of engineers in the digital economy is presented. Key digital skills are identified and disclosed, namely: general IT-skills, professional IT-skills, problem-oriented digital skills, complimentary IT-skills, skills of using digital economy services. It is shown that along with digital skills, an increase in demand for additional interdisciplinary competencies, not peculiar to machines, but necessary, are expected for cooperation with artificial intelligence. Based on the research materials, the author identifies a number of generic skills, the relevance of which will increase in the digital economy: cognitive competencies (self-development, organization, management skills), social behavioral and communication competencies (communication skills, interpersonal skills, interdisciplinary and intercultural interaction), digital (technological) competencies (systems creation, information management).