What do Linkers think of the encouraging of students to take "double"
degrees as an effective method in broadening the "skill sets" of
Australian IT? Especially when these degrees are IT/humanity
combinations?
I studied computer science at UQ 1994-98 and I was looked at as
rather strange - I wanted to combine a B.InfTech with a B.Bus or
B.Econ.?! Recently, UQ and others have begun to recognise the
benefits in humanity/IT combos and have begun offering double
degrees which combine IT with a variety of other courses.
I see many, many pluses in encouraging the development and uptake
of these double degrees. Some possible effects of this trend?
· An increase in the number of women studying IT
· IT applicants with a higher overall academic standard
· IT applicants with better humanity skills
· A reduction of the social stigma associated with IT courses
Of course graduate salaries are making IT more attractive to high-
calibre school leavers, but the trend in double degrees can only
help more? Students' anticipation of IT careers that extend beyond
programming and into management, marketing, and so on could be
causing quite a shift in the nature of applicants to IT courses.
Do any Linkers know how the humanity/IT combo is being pushed to school
leavers?
Cheers, Andrew.
P.S. Perhaps the ACS could have been sponsoring a concert or two
at Schoolies this week? :-)
-- Andrew Roberts Webz Pty Ltd Phone 07 3236 0055 http://www.webz.com.auWebz is located at the "Software Incubator" of Software Engineering Australia Queensland (SEAQ) Level 3, 107 Quay Street, BRISBANE
-----Original Message----- From: owner-link@www.anu.edu.au [mailto:owner-link@www.anu.edu.au]On Behalf Of Matthew Allen Sent: Tuesday, 24 November 1998 11:20 AM To: link@www.anu.edu.au Subject: IT skills
Dear linkers...delurking sort of post
As someone involved in training for IT (just started with the planned Internet Studies program for 1999 at Curtin Uni), I'm struck by the techno-centric bias of most IT education. Does anyone think that there's a chance IT training might include at least some basic ethics, social policy, flexible skills type of education so that we don't create a caste of technologically oriented IT workers?
(BTW, I'm not saying that Australia doesn't need 1,000s of IT workers...simply that it would be nice to have some who are trained in management, policy, analysis etc - future members of the advistory council perhaps?? :) )
Matt
Dr Matthew Allen Senior Lecturer, Humanities Coordinator, Internet Studies Curtin University of Technology 61 - 8 9266 3511