Drop in trust on the internet

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“Businesses, in order to survive, have had to change their services, products and the way that they are offered in order to continue to survive, and hopefully thrive. Many varsity qualifications remained online as we realised it works well!” Nonhlanhla Dube of Boston City Campus explains that while Boston always had a focus on technology driven learning, the number of students who preferred this methodology grew dramatically. “Our students love the flexibility, the time savings and the cost saving of transport. They receive the same level of personal interaction from training advisors as well as academic staff, and because lectures are online the consistency of academic excellence remains solid.”

She continues saying that the very best thing that you can do right now is upskill yourself so that you have new and relevant skills to offer an employer, or a to community should you decide to open your own business. Nonhlanhla discusses five reasons why she believes that now is an excellent time to start a qualification.

1. At Boston you can study anytime and anyplace. We may save time by not travelling to and from campus. Many people previously used the excuse that ‘they don’t have the time’ to study’. One of the advantages of online studies, or having kids in online schooling, is the added time we have to our days.

2. Studying online creates a resilience, perseverance and independence that are traits valued highly in the fourth industrial revolution. Acknowledging the context of the 21st century and the fourth industrial revolution, online learning by its very nature supports and develops personal independence, and prepares the candidate for the modern workplace – one which is characterised by high demand on personnel as well as a high degree of personal autonomy. The student who has had to self-manage their studies is someone who can be trusted to meet deadlines in the workplace.

3. Develop new soft-skills. Part of upskilling is that we also develop ways to think critically, solve problems, and take responsibility for progress: these “soft skills” are valuable currency in the modern workplace.

4. Face unpredictability armed with an ability to adapt. We have seen from the economy sliding and daily events, that our lives are more unpredictable than ever. The only way to combat this is to maintain relevance in a workplace that is always changing. Travel agents are now baking and selling goods from home. With people working from home, imagine if you had the ability to do tech call-outs? Fix a laptop or a network issue in an emergency? Or if you have web design skills, you can be the start of someone’s new online business by setting up their website and ordering system? Perhaps develop an app for homeschooling? There are opportunities out there for work, we need to have the skills that we can network ourselves and offer services.

5. Coming back to work in 2022 after years of lockdown and protocols illuminated the need for new fourth industrial revolution skills. With a tough economy, employers now demand employees that can fill many rolls as companies have scaled back to adapt to the economy. Companies will always need bookkeepers, for example, but also brand builders and call centre agents. They will also be looking for leaders who can generate ideas and make them happen through project management. Using the time to study now, means you will have skills you can use as we face the changed landscape as leaders. Taking our qualifications to a level higher creates great opportunities for upward mobility, earning potential increases, and new job opportunities will open up.

Higher Education applications close soon. Contact Boston on 011 551 2000 or visit www.boston.ac.za

Internet users call for new regulations to strengthen online privacy and better control over how personal data is collected and used

Tech Reporter

Recent findings of a 20 country Ipsos survey indicates that trust in the internet has dropped since 2019.

In the survey, released by the New Institute in Hamburg, Germany, only six in 10 (63%) internet users included said they trust the internet, which is down by 11 percent since a similar survey in 2019.

The rare exception is Japan, which showed a seven percentage increase in trust. The findings reveal that internet trust shrunk by double-digits in India (-10 points), Sweden (-10), Kenya (-11), United States (-12), Canada (-14), Brazil (-18), and Poland (-26).

Seventy-nine percent expressed worry about their online privacy.

Many expressed that internet governance is lacking. Slightly over half (57%) said the internet is effectively governed; but fewer than half in Britain (45%), the US (45%), France (41%) and Israel (34%) felt that way. In Germany internet trust fell to 61%, down nine points from 2019, which is slightly below the international average of 63%, but higher than in Canada (57%) and the US (54%).

Only two African countries, South Africa and Kenya were included in the study. South Africans had 63% agreeing that they trust the internet. In Kenya 70% expressed trust in the internet.

Programme chairperson for socioeconomic transformation at The New Institute, also former German Federal State Secretary for Digital

Society and Consumer Policy, Dr Christian Kastrop said the survey shows distrust in the largest communication network ever created.

“Internet users want effective policies to empower and protect them,” Dr Kastrop said.

Sub-Saharan Africa knowledge director Mari Harris said: “In South Africa and Kenya citizens are looking to government policies to protect them, but balance needs to be maintained between freedom of speech and stricter government policies so as not to deny freedom of information access.”

Amid privacy concerns and declining worldwide trust, internet users call for new regulations to strengthen online privacy. They also want better control over how their personal data is collected and used.

Respondents indicated that effective policies should include protection of user privacy (65%); users’ personal data (65%); establishment of standards detailing how internet companies collect and use user data (62%); and also the establishment of policies that will allow users to control their own data (62%).

‘Those who are disappointed by their poor performance at the end of their schooling career are able to continue with their studies at their own pace. They are able to register for one, two or more subjects and write examinations either in May, June or October and November.’