Record number of techleapers at the City of Stockholm
Public administration is an engineering-heavy sector. There is a lot that needs to fall into place with infrastructure, digitalization and urban planning. If nothing else, this can be seen in the record number of technology leaps at the City of Stockholm.
The City of Stockholm is constantly working to attract the right skills, and one part of this is to show young adults at an early stage what opportunities exist in the public sector.
"We have great needs for the climate transition, we are making major investments in infrastructure and maintenance, and a lot of expertise is required both now and in the future," says Karin Ekdahl Wästberg, Director of Innovation at the City of Stockholm.
As part of the skills supply, Stockholm has received a record number of techleapers during the autumn.
During a closing ceremony for the semester's technology leapers at the City Hall in Stockholm, Karin Ekdal Wästberg talks about several projects that the city is running. Traffic measurement and data collection on busy streets and a project that will use drones and AI to get Canada geese to leave the city's beaches, among other things. These, and similar projects, require several different perspectives and new approaches.
It is precisely the variety that attracts people to work in the public sector, according to Fred Bergwitz, technology jumper at the development unit at Hässelby-Vällingby's district administration.
"That's the dream, because you get such a free hand and we've had such fantastic supervisors who have both given us a lot of responsibility.
Her colleague Amina Mahamoud agrees and emphasizes the importance of communication and collaboration when working as an engineer.
"That and that you should strive for as much diversity as possible. It can be diversity in mindset, background and skills. It takes several perspectives for a project and a city to work," she says.
Despite the fact that they have only finished high school so far, both Amina Mahamoud and Fred Bergwitz have impressed supervisor Maria Andersson, who is an operations controller at the Development Unit at Hässelby-Vällingby's district administration. Not only with his many creative ideas but also with his productivity. This has placed new demands on her own development, she says.
"I've really realised how much we can use our technology leaps for real tasks. They have so much expertise with them and we need that perspective," says Maria Andersson.
The City of Stockholm wants to take advantage of the drive, creativity and expertise.
"I hope that these young people, who have finished their studies and have now been to sniff out what it is like to work in the City of Stockholm, will get a clear picture that they want to continue studying in STEM and be involved in developing the city and our entire society," says Karin Ekdahl Wästberg. I hope that they will strengthen themselves a bit with a university education or further experience and come back to us in the city.