Creativity matters, synergies between Spanish ICT sector and higher education performance

This study examines the alignment between skills taught at Spanish technological universities and the demands of the national ICT sector over 15 years, spanning from 2008 to 2023. Key findings indicate that teamwork and problem-solving have consistently been the most valued skills, followed by planning and communication. Focusing on the evolution of the university’s role in training key ICT skills, recent graduates have shown a decline in communication skills, teamwork, and proactivity, while improving in problem-solving, planning, and analytical thinking. The study highlights the need to incorporate management skills into ICT curricula, as promoting engineers to managerial positions remains challenging. Additionally, the ICT sector is shifting its priorities, with creativity and innovation becoming more highly valued than customer orientation. The findings emphasise the necessity for educational programs to adapt continuously to meet industry needs and enhance graduate employability, particularly in a new business scenario where technology management is increasingly driving global competitive strategies.