Digital Economy: Challenges of the Future for University Graduates

On September 27, a doctor of law, professor, senator of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, coordinator of the working group “Science and Education” of the Russian-German Forum “Petersburg Dialogue”, honorary professor of St. Petersburg University of Management Technologies and Economics Wilfried Bergmann gave students a lecture.

The lecture was devoted to the problems of the current state of jurisprudence in Russia and Germany and the prospects for its development in the digital economy, as well as the requirements that it presents to university graduates. Not only future lawyers – first-year students – were the audience of the lecture, but also graduates of bachelor's degree in “State and municipal administration”.

Thanks to digitalization, the spheres of human life take on new forms and content. Mr. Bergmann touched upon various aspects of this process: economic, social, psychological and legal. He noted that digitalization is a rapid process, the economic and legal system do not keep pace with it. As an example, he used the transition to electronic document management, emphasizing that for various reasons, not all members of society have the opportunity to send requests and questionnaires to government authorities in electronic form. This problem applies not only for Russia, but also for Germany.

One of the main risks for the population is the projected reduction of jobs. And here it's necessary to understand that in the future specialists with other competencies will be on demand. Another form of work – another form of education is needed.

By the way, nowadays legal education in Germany is different from the Russian one in a deeper practical orientation. German students don't answer the theoretical questions from the exam tickets, they are given a specific case, and for 5 hours they must justify in writing their decision on this case.

The Professor from Germany urged the students to consider studying at the University as obtaining only basic knowledge and a start for future self-education, which will have to be engaged in all their lives. The most important thing, according to Professor Bergmann – is to understand the methodology of obtaining knowledge, the methodology of decision-making, because during a professional career in the legislation there will be many changes.

“We don't know what will happen in a few years, but we will have to live and work in this uncertainly. It's impossible to slow down the process of digitalization, it needs to be managed”, - summarized Mr. Bergmann.