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.

Future of ICT Education in Australia

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). We will then report back to the main group and then this will be later used for submissions to government on ICT education policy. I am not sure if ACS and ACDICT hve it worked out exactly how this will be done.

An opportunity for participants to shape the future of ICT

• Industry and universities maximising common interests
• Exploring future mutual benefits
• Graduate recruits meeting industry needs and expectations

ACDICT and the ACS Foundation are facilitating an event during WCC2010 to further foster and strengthen relationships between universities and the industry. The concept is that three topics of mutual interest and subject matter experts have been chosen to lead the deliberations, following which the audience will split into groups to vigorously discuss each topic area, and report back to the audience on their findings.

Maximising the Industry / University Partnership

The topics chosen are :-

1. The quality of university graduates: a joint university and industry responsibility

• Government imposed standards
• Maintaining quality and relevance
• Industry’s role in teaching and assessment
• Work integrated learning

2. Ensuring the future of ICT in Australia

• Current and future workforce shortages
• The profile of the future professional
• A student-driven demand system as opposed to employer demand
• Articulation between TAFEs, private providers and universities
• Workplace experience of graduates

3. ICT Research: maximising benefits

• The goals and value of research training
• Industry and ICT research
• Ensuring relevance
• Effective research models

The people who will be leading these groups will be Professor Janet Verbyla, Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Southern Queensland, Bob Hayward, Chief Technology & Information Officer, CSC Australia & Asia, and Phil Robertson, Chief Operating Officer, NICTA, respectively.

Benefits to participants

• Contribution to document for government policy advice
• Deep interaction with colleagues
• Gaining new perspectives

Outcomes

All discussions will be compiled into a document suitable for influencing future government policy and distributed to all attendees.