Who is the future IT graduate?

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.