e-Skills and resource issues

1. e-Skills and resource issues An examination of HE Computing Issues; looking at results from BCS Survey and the New Technology Institutes Professor Gillian Lovegrove and Alastair Irons Northumbria University 29th May 2002

2. Objectives of presentation • To discuss the e-skills and resource issues from the British Computer Society’s HE survey. • looking at staffing issues in HE and the effect that will have on the e-skills shortage • To introduce the New Technology Institutes and their role in tackling e-skills issues • looking at the need for collaboration between education, employers and regions

3. BCS Survey Background • Increasing number of undergraduate students Objectives of the survey • To provide well researched evidence on increase in numbers • To identify potential problem areas • A base line for tracking future trends Survey carried out by questionnaire • Developed, agreed, piloted by CPHC committee • 67 participants out of around 100 depts • Followed up by phone or by interview

4. Sample detail • Universities • Old universities 57% • New universities 43% • Students in Computing Schools <500 500-900 1000+ 38% 28% 34%

5. Recruitment and retention of academic staff • 73% of heads say they have a problem in recruitment and retention • 19% in recruitment only • 3% in retention only • 5% say they have no problem • Over 90% of depts have unfilled positions • 11% report at least 20% unfilled positions • Ssrs are significantly higher than the norm for all subjects (12:1) with 13% operating on ssr’s greater than 30:1

6. Concern • 74% of heads report that working conditions have deteriorated over the last 5 years • Age profile of current staff is heavily weighted between 35 and 54

7. Problems in recruiting academic staff • Salaries/industry pays more 81% • Workload/bureaucracy/admin 31% • Workload/too many students 29%

8. Problems in retaining academic staff • Workload 39% • Staff in smaller student establishments appear to be more likely to work 48 hours plus • Staff in larger ones …….. 37 hours plus • 84% say at least 80% work > 37 hours • 25% say at least 80% work > 48 hours • Salaries 28% • belief that salaries cause shortages • Lose to other universities 24% • Lose to industry 22% • eventually lose academic staff to industry • Poor promotion prospects 22%

9. Variation in ssr’s

10. Ages of staff <25 1% 25-34 21% 35-44 31% 45-54 31% 55-59 13% 60+ 3%

11. Views on how shortages should be tackled Increase salaries 39% Reduce workload/inc. research 32% Improve conditions of service 20% Increase resource for computing 20% Improve academics’ image 15% Stop subsidising other depts 10%

12. What issues does this raise for e-skills ? • Lack of people to work in universities • vicious circle • Pressures on time • Adverse impact on teaching requirements to support students • Not enough time to spend on appropriate research

13. Another dimension to the e-skills issue • The Government published its White Paper on enterprise, skills and innovation, ‘Opportunity for All in a World of Change’ in February 2001. • The establishment of New Technology Institutes (NTI) was one of the measures announced in the White Paper. • NTIs are to provide ICT and other advanced technology learning programmes, and to work closely with local SMEs to ensure they have the know-how to apply advanced technology.

14. New Technology Institutes • £25 million in capital funding for a national network of NTIs • 9 regions with up to 2 NTIs per region • Purpose of the NTIs to meet regional needs for: • increasing the supply of people with technician and higher level skills in information and communications technologies (ICT) and other advanced technologies. • making available better advice and support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), through improved links with higher and further education, on the effective adoption of new technology and innovative business practices. • 2 bids in the North East, talk about the northern bid

15. NTI in the NE • Rationale • Rapid growth of IT services industry from low base in NE • Also need for ICT skills in all employers • Skills Framework – e-skills UK • Flexible curriculum, delivery and accreditation to meet employer needs • Priorities • Improve quantity and quality of supply to labour market • Young people and new/re-entrants to labour market eg. women returners • Demand-pull - workforce development • Focus on employer-input, use of credit and flexible delivery • Be financially viable

16. The consortium • HE - 3 universities • FE- 7 colleges - G6 & Northumberland College • Employers: incl. Microsoft, CISCO, Sage, MMO2 , Leighton Group, TNL, Digital Media Network, Syntegra, Croft Computers, Procter and Gamble • Business Support: e-skills NTO, Tyne & Wear SBS, NE Business & Innovation Centre, Engineering Employers' Federation, Tyne and Wear Association of Business Clubs, NE Chamber of Commerce • Public Sector: Newcastle City Council • Shows working together to address the e-skills problems

17. Organisational Structure NTI Management Group Strategic Development Group NTI Partner Forum Main NTI (Newcastle) Hub Satellite (Sunderland) Hub HEIs FE Colleges

18. Delivery Model HEI Spoke Main Hub FE Spokes Satellite Hub HEI Spoke FE Spokes

19. Example of NTI addressing e-skills from NE NTI • 590 new learners p.a. by Yr 3 • 163 long placements p.a by Yr 3 • 63 short placements p.a. by Yr. 3 • engagement with 200 SMEs • portfolio of other services to SMEs • enterprise in the curriculum • support for business creation

20. NTI Issues from NE • Two bids of £1.6 million combined to bid for £2 million, allocated £1.7 million ! • Getting the right people to manage and run the NTI • Raising awareness for participants • Making the consortium work !