Jam’s May policy brief – technology priorities for the government

The panel included Julia Adamson MBE, BCS Chief Education and Public Benefit Officer Holly Porter, BCS Institute MD, Jo Stansfield FBCS, Somaya Aghnia FBCS and James Woodward, BCS Communications Director. Andy Twelves reports.

The discussion began with James presenting the main points of the BCS manifesto regarding professionalism, education and diversity and inclusion. BCS’s main demand is mandatory professional registration for IT professionals, which is the norm in accounting and engineering. Holly discussed the need for high standards of professionalism and accountability in artificial intelligence and technology development, particularly in key sectors such as healthcare. She made it clear that BCS believes Chartered status should be the gold standard for ensuring that IT professionals are competent, ethical and constantly updating themselves on the latest developments.

Digital skills for everyone

The next topic of discussion was world-class IT education and digital skills, with Julia emphasizing the need for comprehensive IT education for all children and adults. The panel then discussed the latest proposals to update GCSE computing to include artificial intelligence, highlighting that digital literacy is essential for everyone, not just those with technology careers. This includes tackling the digital divide and ensuring underrepresented groups have access to digital skills, which is crucial for equality and future workforce needs.

Widening participation

The discussion then turned to diversity and inclusion in the technology sector, with Jo and Somaya, highlighting the importance of tech diversity and noting the significant underrepresentation of women, older people and people with disabilities. They argued that diverse teams are essential to developing unbiased and fair technology solutions. The discussion included the need for inclusive hiring practices and creating an environment that supports the development of a diverse workforce, emphasizing that diversity is a resource that supports innovation and problem-solving in technology.