[LINK] Where Are the Software Engineers of Tomorrow?

[Linda Rouse]

Interesting article from Butler Group's TechWatch today. on decline 
of ICT in the UK. . . especially 3rd para that discusses the lack of 
business skills rather than the lack of software science and 
technology... hmm

http://www.butlergroup.com/research/KCInterPages/%7B4C486CA4-F7AF-4D50-802F-C77CCDAF5D5E%7D.asp

'The Council of Professors and Heads of Computing (CPHC) represents 
and  promotes the teaching of computing science and ICT at university 
level	 in the UK. Earlier this year, it released a briefing note on 
the  diminishing pipeline of UK graduates in these areas and the 
consequences		for UK industry, which highlights what I 
believe to be a deeply worrying  picture. Firstly, between 2001 and 
2006 there was a 42% decrease in  students beginning ICT courses, 
despite the fact that the number of ICT  job vacancies indicates a 
strong level of demand. There are also few		signs of an 
imminent improvement, with numbers of pupils studying ICT at  GCSE 
and A-level also decreasing.

		One of CPHC's own studies indicated that of those who 
do graduate with		an ICT degree, only 27% are in work 
in IT-professional roles, evenly  split between supply-side roles in 
the IT industry and demand-side roles  in user organisations, whilst 
41% of all ICT graduates are in some form of IT-related work. Apart 
from the skills shortage itself, one of the		background 
concerns raised by CPHC is that many of the places available, 
particularly when one reaches postgraduate level, are being taken up 
by  overseas students, so that whilst we are helping to improve the 
expertise of competitors, the UK itself is starting to suffer badly.

I am also concerned, however, about the focus of both undergraduate 
and postgraduate ICT courses: the majority of these still have an 
overwhelming computer science and technology focus. Don't get me 
wrong,I think it is vital to put the strong theoretical foundations 
in place,		but as the emphasis within both supply-side 
and demand-side roles shifts towards technology management and 
exploitation, there needs to be much greater prominence given to the 
application of these skills in practical business scenarios. There 
are some encouraging signs here, with more institutions starting to 
offer courses in Computing for Business or similar titles.'
<snip>

regards
Linda
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Linda Rouse, Information Manager
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Phone 1300 886 238 (bus.)
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