The British Computer Society is urging the government to
continue funding for IT students.
Under a new policy, government funding will no longer be
available for any graduate taking computing and IT courses.
The policy prevents any student from getting government funding
for qualifications that are equivalent to, or of lower value than,
any they may already hold.
Subjects considered strategically important or vulnerable are
exempt from this policy. These include chemistry, physics,
engineering, mathematics, land-based studies, modern foreign
languages and Islamic studies.
But despite technology usually being included in the group of
important Stem subjects (science, technology, engineering and
mathematics) IT is not exempt.
The BCS says the resulting higher fees for IT students will
discourage mature and part-time students with first degrees from
undertaking IT courses. This will, the BCS says, exacerbate the
skills shortage already facing the industry.
The policy will affect those who take a single course module at
the level of qualification they already have - meaning women
returning from work after having children will be particularly
affected. This is in the face of a
severe lack of female IT workers coming into the
profession.
Mike Rodd, BCS head of learned society & external relations,
said, "Any lessening of incentives to pursue IT as a career, or to
update or move focus can only have a detrimental impact on Western
economies.
"As well as being economically important, the IT industry is
vital to the delivery of public services."