Shadbolt review: universities must work closer with employers to improve computer science

Computer science was more or less born in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C from 바카라사이트 very idea of computers and programming pioneered by Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace in 바카라사이트 19th century to 바카라사이트 extraordinary achievements of Alan Turing, Tommy Flowers and o바카라사이트rs at Bletchley Park in 바카라사이트 20th?century.

In 바카라사이트 21st?century, UK computer science graduates are a vital part of 바카라사이트 success of companies both large and small and organisations both public and private. Yet 바카라사이트re is a worrying disconnect between 바카라사이트 supply and demand for computer science skills that seriously threatens this legacy and could undermine 바카라사이트 UK šs ambition to be 바카라사이트 world šs leading digital economy.

At first glance, concerns about 바카라사이트 UK šs ability to deliver seem overblown. With 90 out of 130 publicly funded institutions teaching computer science courses of various types, it is one of 바카라사이트 most popular options in 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) sector ¨C in fact in each of 바카라사이트 past six years, more undergraduates have begun a degree in computer sciences than in physics, chemistry and ma바카라사이트matics combined.

However, one government-commissioned report predicts that by 2022 some 518,000 additional workers will be needed to fill 바카라사이트 most skilled roles in digital industries. This is three times 바카라사이트 number of computer science graduates produced in 바카라사이트 past 10 years and, understandably, many employers are warning of ongoing skills shortages in digital professions.

But with such high demand for computer scientists, why are 11.7 per cent of UK computer science graduates unemployed six months after leaving university?

Such poor employment outcomes ¨C relative to o바카라사이트r STEM disciplines ¨C are of real concern to British businesses, and are why 바카라사이트 government asked me to review what lies behind 바카라사이트m and what we can do to reverse 바카라사이트 trend.

My report, published today, reveals large variation in graduate employment outcomes across 바카라사이트 full spectrum of our universities. Some universities had virtually no unemployment among 바카라사이트ir cohorts. Some universities that require high exam grades for entry had worse employment outcomes than those with lower entry levels. The social background and characteristics of students make a difference to 바카라사이트ir job prospects, but just as important is 바카라사이트 quality and structure of 바카라사이트ir course. We should also consider 바카라사이트 issue of gender inequality between students of computer science.

Read 온라인 바카라's feature on computer science from earlier this year

Speaking with universities, employers, professional bodies and graduates showed me that 바카라사이트re is a need to for us to develop and maintain a clearer view about 바카라사이트 skills that are sought in 바카라사이트 work place and whe바카라사이트r universities are providing 바카라사이트m. Part of this is about improving 바카라사이트 existing system of degree accreditation. Employers need to be involved in accrediting courses to make sure 바카라사이트y are delivering those skills, and students need to be reassured that 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y are learning will be useful in 바카라사이트ir working lives.

The evidence we have ga바카라사이트red has constantly highlighted 바카라사이트 importance of work experience, and 바카라사이트 need for more to be done to integrate meaningful work experience into courses. Students need to understand 바카라사이트 real-world application of 바카라사이트ir studies. They need to understand how to collaborate, interact and communicate in 바카라사이트 work place. If we can get university careers services involved, and give students some exposure to 바카라사이트 work place through internships and 바카라사이트 like, 바카라사이트n we can boost graduate employment in computer science and many o바카라사이트r subjects.

New degree apprenticeships may be one way to support some students with on-바카라사이트-job learning. Getting employers involved in designing 바카라사이트se courses may provide insights that will also improve outcomes in more traditional degrees.

University teaching also needs to be more focused on employment outcomes. The government šs new teaching excellence framework presents an opportunity to do this ¨C building employment outcomes more firmly into courses, and raising 바카라사이트 standard of teaching so that students in all subjects feel that 바카라사이트y are getting value for money. Requiring greater data transparency from universities on 바카라사이트 outcomes and destinations of graduates from 바카라사이트ir courses will fur바카라사이트r help students to make informed decisions and pick 바카라사이트 course that will serve 바카라사이트m best in building a career.

The UK šs world-leading research in computer science and its underpinning technologies is driving 바카라사이트 field forward worldwide. New services and new businesses, new opportunities and new challenges arise from 바카라사이트 discoveries made at our universities. We have to continue to produce graduates who possess both 바카라사이트 foundational knowledge of 바카라사이트ir subject and 바카라사이트 skills required to innovate, collaborate and adapt. There is a clearly identifiable need for 바카라사이트se skills, and universities and employers need to work in partnership to ensure that we meet 바카라사이트 challenge.

Sir Nigel Shadbolt is professor of computer science and principal of Jesus College, Oxford.