[LINK] Results of discussion of future IT graduates: vocational and university

Tom Worthington tom.worthington at tomw.net.au
Mon Sep 20 15:53:57 AEST 2010


Where we have got up to at the World Computer Congress in Brisbane:: 
<http://bit.ly/future_IT_graduates>.

Greetings from the World Computer Congress 2010 in Brisbane. I am taking 
part in a Joint Australian Council of Deans of ICT and ACS Foundation 
Event to help shape the future of ICT. I am to be taking note in one of 
the three breakout sessions The one run by (Bob Hayward, Chief 
Technology & Innovation Officer, CSC Australia). Here is what I have so far:

     World Computer Congress 2010
     Joint Australian Council of Deans of ICT and ACS Foundation Event
     Ensuring the future of ICT in Australia

     Facilitator: Bob Hayward, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, 
CSC Australia).

     20 September 2010, Brisbane

        1.

           Current and future workforce shortages: Placing Australia in 
the global context: Australian organizations and Australian arms of 
international organizations.
        2.

           The profile of the future professional: Emphasis on business 
communication “professional skills”, rather than technical computer 
programming skills. Companies want articulate and confident staff. 
Marketing skills required by graduates. Professional Skills V Technical 
Skills V Industry Specific Skills
        3.

           A student-driven demand system as opposed to employer demand: 
Incorrect media portraits of “geeks” programming in the basement. 
Industry needs to make Enterprise Architects desirable, as has been done 
with accounting. Also role models for women in IT are needed. Employers 
are looking beyond Australia and are using professionals from around the 
Asian region for more technical roles. However, the customer relations 
tasks may still be carried out by Australian staff. Student's 
expectation that they have finished their education when they get a 
degree needs to be changed.
        4.

           Articulation between TAFEs, private providers and 
universities: Do these skills need to be internationally accredited? 
Need for dual degrees or vocational qualifications to complement 
university degrees. Are IT courses for other disciplines being 
neglected? Schools system needs to be considered as well as TAFEs.
        5.

           Workplace experience of graduates: “Skills” versus 
“education”. Many university students have real life skills from 
previous employment. However, industry places are needed to provide 
workplace experience for students fresh from secondary school. Most IT 
professionals work in IT specialist workplaces, but there is still scope 
for work placement in other industries.

     ICT for the National Agenda:

           Productivity using IT:
        1.

           NBN: what skills are needed? Will “Build it and they will 
come work? How do we get creative industries using the NBN?
        2.

           IT in Mining: Story of how IT supports Australian industry 
needs to be told: mining, primary industry.
        3.

           IT to Help an Aging Population:
        4.

           IT for the Environment:
        5.

           IT for Education:
        6.

           Bio-informatics:

     It was noted that Senator Hon. Stephen Conroy, Minister for 
Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy will be speaking at 
the congress.

-- 
Tom Worthington FACS CP HLM, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Computer Science, The
Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/



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