How to Keep developing skills in electronics?

[angy]

I have two points to discuss one is regarding importance of  programming skills for electronic engineer.  The other one is developing skills outside your regular Job.

In today's Industrial Environemnt,the trend in electronics field  is more towards software and less in hardware.In the 70s,80s electronics was 100% hardware.Now its becoming more of software and less hardware.

As per expert advice it is very difficult to master both hardware and software.So as a electronic engineer how should we balanced out skills so that we are up to date ?

Since I am working in  a electronics industry (10 year exp) .Our bosses does not like to share  his Knowledge and skills with us for eg. when  there is a new project the project manager keeps us away from the design aspect ,programming etc. What he gives us is to find components or some sort of documentation  etc..

So because of this we can't progress .One of the way I am  dealing  with this situation is to self learn  . Buy a kit do small programming etc.

I hope this approach is good enough any other suggestion will be welcome.



Kindly advice please .