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Wither Computer Science?

Wither Computer Science?. Michael Gough Msc CEng FIET FBCS CITP CEO, National Computing Centre CPHC Conference, Birmingham 20 th April 2007. Some questions. Do UK employers need Computer Science graduates?

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Wither Computer Science?

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  1. Wither Computer Science? Michael Gough Msc CEng FIET FBCS CITP CEO, National Computing Centre CPHC Conference, Birmingham 20th April 2007

  2. Some questions • Do UK employers need Computer Science graduates? • Do UK employers need graduates so badly that they would be prepared to co-fund to their development? • What about ‘academic engagement’ by employers?

  3. Wither Computer Science? • We no longer have a high demand for computer programmers? Cost effective development resources exist elsewhere in the world. • “All the code we ever needed for business applications has already been written” … a ‘Russell Group’ CS Prof. • Legacy systems everywhere, stifling innovation. Complexity is a key issue. CS/SE opportunity?

  4. Wither Computer Science? • Growing number of SMEs; shrinking number of mid-sized companies in the UK – supply chains are broken. • No requirement for a ‘licence to practice’ hence IT not viewed as a profession, BUT, increasing compliance requirements • The ‘computing’ career path is not obvious.

  5. Graduate employment? • Large number of graduates chasing small number of ‘management trainee’ vacancies • Only large employers taking training/development seriously; SMEs can’t afford it. • Graduate psyche - ‘Nintendo Generation’ • Employers will invest in accreditation and skills development, but unlikely to co-fund academic qualifications

  6. Recruitment 2006-7 • 2006 was a buoyant year across all sectors. 2007 is shaping up to be exactly the same! • Despite recent interest rate rises, business confidence appears to be high and organisations are almost universally in growth mode. • Business imperatives for more effective business processes whilst costs are simultaneously reduced. Hence … • … continued emphasis on moving to shared services, outsourced and off-shored delivery.

  7. NCC Staff Issues Survey 2007 • Staff retention improving • 48% of organisations expected IT headcount to increase over next 2 years • Perception of skills shortage has reduced, but developers with Web technology skills are in short supply though

  8. CIO Agenda • CIO moving to ‘Managing Director of IT function’ • CIO typically not on the Board • Where IT is represented on the Board it is in combination with another function (HR, Operations, Finance) • IT Directors don’t, therefore, necessarily have an technology background

  9. What IT Skills are required? • … Management • Service delivery • telecommunications and network infrastructure • Development • Internet technologies; .NET, Java, ‘web tools’ • Information management (informatics) • business services • Help desk/user support

  10. IT Management Skills • Programme/project management (business projects not IT) • trend for application development into the offshore arena • Managers of outsourcing, offshore, and shared services provisioning (IT management) • some signs of re-establishment of in-house strategy functions • Vendor management (commercial management) • Architecture (strategy)

  11. IT Management Skills • Change & ‘transformation’ management (HR) • Compliance & risk management (audit) • Significant emphasis on information management • Business engagement (marketing, communications) • Telecommunications & network infrastructure (delivery)

  12. The missing ‘technology’ • Problem identification • Solution conceptualisation • Communication: demonstration of understanding • Engineering: • re-use, patterns • standards –v- standardisation • Business value translation • Personal ‘agility’ and ‘leadership’ qualities

  13. Employer Engagement • Let the employers lead – define requirements? Do they know what they need?? • Avoid vendor vested interests, but recognise reality • Seek channels for consultation: • Corporate end-users: NCC • Corporate vendors: Intellect

  14. NCC Employer Engagement • NCC – a trusted third party; the UK’s largest and most diverse membership organisation serving corporate, vendor and government communities. • Research – surveys, opinion, advisory boards • Networking – sectors, vendors, functional roles; problem sharing/solving, best practice • ‘Community research’ projects • IS Management • Enterprise Architecture / Systems Engineering • Accreditation • Standards compliance • Corporate accreditation

  15. Academic Engagement • Academia needs to offer more immediate help to commerce and industry if it is to be a ‘business partner’ • Adopt / legitimise best practice as well as pursuing research. • Develop applied ‘computer science’ within other disciplines (sector specific, with new name); i.e. CS – an applied not a theoretical science. • Work with the ‘institutions’ to create a true IT profession: • ‘licence’ to practice • Career model (not a job family framework) • Integrate learned society, employers, professionals

  16. Questions? Michael.Gough@ncc.co.uk

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