At the University of Southampton's School of Electronics
& Computer Science, we have just witnessed a major increase in
computer science undergraduate numbers. In fact, our recent intake
of 94 undergraduates, which is 20% higher than last year, is the
biggest ever intake of computer science students since the dotcom
crash,Paul Garratt is admissions tutor for computer
science at the University of Southampton
Computer science has once again become a popular subject in the
UK, with 10,000 new students starting degree courses in 2007. Due
to the fact that the discipline
dwindled in popularity over the past five years and
applications dwindled due to the dotcom crash, it may take the
industry time to recover, but all the signs indicate a
resurgence.
Our experience at the School of Electronics & Computer
Science mirrors market trends. There was a surge in applications
from 1996 to 2000, in synchrony with the dotcom boom, then a
decline to the previous steady rate of increase. The School of
Electronics & Computer Science is attractive to applicants
because we are the biggest department of its kind in the UK.
We can offer a range of specialisms from electronics-oriented
courses through web technology to artificial intelligence,
multimedia and formal software engineering. We have a high research
profile and figure prominently in the league tables.
Overseas students have always comprised about 15% of our intake
and now we welcome alongside the students from the Far East
newcomers from Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, who are keen to enjoy
the opportunities in British higher education. We invest resources
in publicity and marketing online and via traditional media. We
engage with local schools and we stage three annual open days for
interested young people and parents.
We also make students and potential students aware of the career
opportunities available within the discipline. We host careers
fairs to which we invite leading international players in this
field we also organise work placements for students. They also
become aware of the fact that it is not unusual for a graduate to
start out on a salary of £35,000 in what is now an extremely
healthy job market.
So, despite the adverse effects of the dotcom crash I think the
future of computer science is expansion. Young people are
technologically aware. Universities can help them realise that even
when they are having fun with the inventions of computer science
when they play on the internet on Facebook, Google, or YouTube, or
watch Harry Potter on DVD players, they are viewing computer
output.
The more we do to raise the profile of computer science and
demonstrate how it enhances our lives the more levels of interest
will grow. If companies and schools can explain how versatile and
pervasive computing technology is then it will continue to attract
bright and ambitious youngsters. They will see it more and more as
an exciting and lucrative career as well as a fascinating
subject.
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