[LINK] Promoting education in Australia

[Anthony Healy]

> Local students (and especially females) are not
> flocking to learn ... Is that a bad thing?

Yes, if Australian students aren't choosing IT courses, then it is bad.
We're not not developing our technology creation base. We get fed a lot of
crap in Australia, and unfortunately we've got a lot of dopes who buy it.
For example, our politicians sit back and glow that we're "early technology
adopters." In fact, all the developed countries get fed this line in one way
or another. It's part of international marketing.

> and when they do, it is not the "hard" end of
> computer science/engineering they choose but
> the more people oriented skills. Is that a bad
> thing?

"People oriented" is of course a loaded phrase. Who would say that people
orientation is not good. I don't believe this is an accurate way to make the
distinction, even though I know it's very common. It presumes so many
things. A few points:

1. Who says that doing the complex subjects reduces "people orientation?" We
don't see this accusation leveled at, say, surgeons, or at lawyers who do
doctorates.

2. It's increasingly common for job specs for project managers to demand
technical expertise, due to many companies having been burnt by "business"
project managers.

3. Historical trend: In 95/96, the trendoid web firms used to boast they
"weren't computer people," this apparently being a marvelous attribute. By
1997, after everyone realised brochure-sites were useless, the web firms had
suddenly discovered that they "knew databases" after all. By 1998, they were
desperately trying to hire real software engineers. By 1999 they were
failing. By 2000 even the MBA's had discovered the truth.

4,5,6, some other time.



Regards, Tony Healy