Sitting in my office chair, overlooking a team of brilliant developers, I often reflect on my academic past – one intertwined with contour lines, tectonic plates, and cultural demographics. I began my journey as a geographer, someone who was deeply fascinated by the relationship between people and their environments. Little did I know then, I'd soon steer towards an environment powered by 1s and 0s. Today, I serve as the CTO of a fast-paced tech firm, even though I never went through the conventional coding bootcamps or computer science degrees that many associates with such roles.
I've had the honor of mentoring and training many developers, most of whom were formally educated as programmers in Kazakhstan. The fascinating part? Several of them came to me as novices and, with the proper guidance and practical experience, transformed into proficient coders.
However, during these training sessions, a glaring concern consistently came to light – the gap between academic teachings and real-world applications in our educational institutions. Despite their rigorous academic pursuits, these budding developers often found themselves ill-prepared for the practical challenges they faced. It's not that they weren't competent or dedicated; the curriculum they'd been exposed to was severely outdated and lacked alignment with current industry standards.
The tech landscape, as we all know, evolves rapidly. Technologies that were in vogue five years ago might now be obsolete. Hence, it's crucial for academic institutions, especially in Kazakhstan, to revise their curricula continually. The theoretical knowledge of the past must make room for today's practical applications. Moreover, there should be an emphasis on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability – skills that transcend programming languages or platforms.
To all the educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in Kazakhstan's educational sphere: Let's not just produce graduates. Let's cultivate innovators. The strength of our nation's tech industry relies heavily on the capabilities of our future developers. It's high time we bridge the educational gap and align academic teachings with real-world demands.
Your diverse perspectives are invaluable to those venturing into tech from unconventional backgrounds. The journey might seem daunting, but remember, expertise isn't always defined by a degree but by experience, adaptability, and an unending passion for learning.
Together, let's redefine the norms and propel Kazakhstan's tech industry into an era of unmatched innovation. 💡🚀🌍
#Education #TechIndustry #Innovation #Kazakhstan
Director, Business Development | Cloud Managed Services at Devoteam
12moMarius Ivanauskas you and your team at #TeliaGlobalServicesLithuania truly make an impact for Lithuania!