Education in the digital economy

As digital transformation accelerates, the digital economy is expected to contribute 25.5% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by normal the country end like of Malaysia. the The year, current which situation is indicates a that there is the need to prepare individuals in the society to be digitally competent to meet the job market requirements and to support Malaysia's vision of becoming a regional digital to This power. June paper The 2024, aims country and at has hence contributing already there to received is this RM185.3 a debate billion good by of trend arguing digital in that investments the the from growth design 2021 of industry the must sector evolve involved.

to remain and relevant that more disciplinary approaches should be adopted in the sector. The higher education institutions (HEIs) play a significant role in this change as they provide learning opportunities, experiences, and knowledge. Therefore, the question of the day is not whether the adaptation is required, but rather how rapidly the HEIs are able to align their curricula with the current industry standards.

The digital tools are no longer considered as additional input in the learning process, they are now central to skill development in the digital economy. Such technologies as virtual reality and artificial intelligence (AI) provide students with immersive and interactive learning experiences that cannot and be services replaced are by moving traditional to methods the of digital is teaching.

For and a example, online need digital world for design and people has less with become on the important physical. right as This digital more shift skills products means as that digital there literacy is the formation of the digital interface.

The digital designer combines the functions of brand design, UX (user experience) design and UI (user interface) design to develop coherent user-centric web and mobile applications. Moreover, the increased demand for advanced features such as analytics-driven e-commerce, GPS location tracking, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Mixed Reality (MR) experiences presents new challenges to the digital designers.

These challenges would require creative design solutions that integrate technology to improve user experience while meeting the needs of service providers.

Therefore, to prepare students for the future, HEIs should provide students with hands-on experience and critical thinking skills that are necessary to develop great digital interfaces that meet users' needs using various tools like generative AI and collaborative prototype-building apps.

For instance, the fashion industry has also developed due to fashion influencers and augmented reality and there are many opportunities for the digital and creative sector. Fashion design technology is the use of technology in the development of clothing and their construction and marketing with the aim of creating new products or improving the existing ones.

This tactile industry is shifting to AI-driven design tools that allow students and professionals to predict trends, suggest design elements, and optimise production processes.

Therefore, with a more practical approach and the use of tools, graduates are technically competent and are also able to apply other skills such as flexibility, innovation, and ethical thinking to address the needs of the customers in regards to product customization, sustainability, and convenience.

To boost effectiveness and supply the right talents for the digital workforce, the HEIs have to ensure that there is strong readiness for digital learning principles among academics within all faculties.

This change requires a shift from conventional methods of teaching and learning, specifically from lectures to more interactive forms of learning.

The way forward requires collaboration, funding, and the willingness to envision a future where digital literacy has no constraints based on discipline. Therefore, it is clear that HEIs should modify their curricula, teaching methods, and institutional strategies to meet the requirements of the industry. In doing so, the HEIs will not only contribute to Malaysia's digital economy but also produce a population of learners capable of leading and innovating in the digital environment.