The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills
will cut funding for IT training, despite criticism from select
committee MPs.
From September, anyone wishing to join the IT profession by
doing an IT degree or equivalent, when they already have a first
degree in another subject, will have to pay for it themselves.
The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills select
committee criticised the government's decision not to exempt IT
from the policy.
Other subjects, such as engineering, have been exempted because
of their "strategic importance".
The lack of exemption for IT means anyone with a degree-level
qualification in another subject will not receive funding for an IT
degree or equivalent.
The
British Computer Society said the policy is likely to put
people off changing to an IT career, at a time when IT employers
struggle to find enough graduates.
Mike Rodd, learned society director at BCS, "Given that the huge
demand for IT workers far outstrips the pool of IT graduates,
employers are looking for graduates from other disciplines. This
funding change slams the door on many who would otherwise look for
some education to support their job change."
The society said the policy could cost the UK "a great deal" in
the long term.
"There appears to be a real lack of understanding on the part of
the government about what will happen on the ground if this funding
is removed," Rodd said.