Computer science departments must act quickly to meet the
changing skills needs of the dynamic IT sector or risk a takeover
from business schools. This would widen the
IT skills gap and threaten future leadership in the
industry.
Universities have been criticised for not producing work-ready
IT graduates, particularly with business awareness skills. The IT
and Telecoms sector council E-Skills UK has raised concerns over a
shortage of IT professionals and falling numbers of students on
computer science courses nationally.
Large IT employers had previously been able to recruit
technically able graduates and develop their vocational abilities.
However, as the sector becomes more fragmented, smaller employers
do not have the resources and so require graduates who can perform
useful work immediately.
Furthermore, the IT industry has shifted from providing
technical services to encompassing business services. This has
increased the need for graduates to posses business and
technological skills.
A large proportion of computer science university courses have
not adapted to these changes, remaining theoretical and
technological in their nature. The financial and reputation
benefits gained from pursuing "traditional" research transfers into
what students are taught. Little attention is given to the
development of leadership roles in the IT industry. A technical PhD
is clearly not what is called for.
A transformed IT industry presents business schools with the
opportunity to take over university computer science departments,
for a number of reasons.
- Increased demand for degrees that directly relate to
business-facing IT roles. This is well matched by business school
research, which is easily aligned to the strategic issues that the
IT industry faces.
- Business schools have incentives to enter the IT-business
interface, providing MBAs and executive education. IT
undergraduates attract more funding than business students, and
leadership development is a lucrative activity.
Skills gap consequences
The impact of such a takeover would have long-term negative
consequences on the IT sector's skills gap, which arises from a
need for professionals who can deliver technological solutions to
business problems. Since technical and business skills are equally
important, a move towards primarily business-focused education will
simply replace one deficit with another. The sector would lose out
on key technical skills, most importantly:
- Socio-technical aspects of IT interventions are not considered
in a generalist MBA, preventing a balanced view of technological
and business considerations.
- The deep technical understanding to foresee and adapt to
technological developments and innovations crucial to keep UK
businesses globally competitive.
What the sector can do
Computer science departments must act now. They must build on
their success liaising with industry technologists and engage in
depth with business-facing professionals. They must not shun
business schools but rather work with, and learn from, them. The
business models that drive the IT industry and professionalism need
to be fully embedded into curricular at all levels, and a conscious
effort must be made in developing future leaders.
The industry providing mentoring and role models to students
would be an excellent start, and would widen the availability of
industry placements.
Engaging more widely with industry and the IT profession is
crucial to providing work ready graduates, and future leaders. If
they do not, others will and we will all be the poorer for
that.
Andrew Tuson is head of the department of computing at City
University London.