Digital technology & technical skills

Digital technology and technical skills focus on how you understand, use, and create digital systems and tools effectively and responsibly. This category encompasses technical skills such as programming and data analysis, but also being able to use digital platforms (such as Zoom or Instagram) and using digital technology ethically.

You can see a full list of the skills included in this category at the bottom of this page.

Everyone uses these skills in their everyday lives. Even if you're not planning to go into a technical career such as software engineering, most professional roles will involve using digital tools.

Think about how you use technology in your life and academic studies, and reflect on which skills you are developing using the list at the bottom of this page. Use the Skills Discovery Tool to evaluate your skills.

Easy ways to get started

These skills can be developed through everyday activities. You could try:

  • Exploring new digital tools for your studies - try different note-taking apps or research databases to find what works best for you.
  • Practicing digital security habits by using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being mindful of what you share online.
  • Organising your digital files - keeping your documents organised on your computer or Google Drive will help you find what you need faster and stop you losing important files.

Skills development opportunities

If you're looking to drive your skills in this area further, here are some suggestions:

  • Apply for committee roles such as Webmaster or IT Officer on your College's JCR/MCR or for a society. If web development isn't your thing, look for social media roles to build your digital marketing and Canva skills.
  • Try out the JISC Digital UIS Training courses. There's a range of options from beginner to advanced, covering subjects as varied as digital citizenship, AI and Photoshop.
  • If you already have strong technical skills, you could participate in hackathons or hack sessions. Keep an eye on department and society newsletters for these events. You could also contribute to open source projects on GitHub.
  • Choose papers with the opportunity to learn technical skills like R and MATLAB if you're doing a STEM subject.
  • If you're a Humanities or Social Sciences student, try out workshops at CRASSH or Cambridge Digital Humanities to explore how to integrate digital methods into your research.
  • Start creating mods or custom content for your favourite video games. Search on forums and YouTube for guides on how to get started.
  • Get involved intechnical theatre as a sound or lighting designer and learn how to use a range of digital tools and software whilst being creative. Check out the CUADC role guides or attend a CUADC tech workshop to get started.

Check out the activities pages for more ideas on how to get involved and develop your skills in this area.