The British Computer Society (BCS) has sounded a note of alarm over the government's decision to remove funding for second degrees or degree level qualifications in IT. This, BCS warns, will deter significant numbers of people entering an economically vital sector already suffering from a dire skills shortage.
The government has defended the decision not to mark IT as a subject important to the public interest. This means that as of this September, anyone with a degree-level qualification in another subject will find funding to study a computing degree or equivalent course dramatically curtailed. The government specifically exempts science, technology, engineering and mathematical subjects from the changes, but does not officially include IT/Computing among that list.
The UK Government Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills was responding to a critical report by The House of Commons' Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee on the policy. Full fees for any IT degree courses or qualifications that are equivalent to degree-level will therefore have to be paid for by the candidates themselves. This is against the backdrop of clear preferences from employers to recruit experienced people of graduate level and above. The costs of doing so are likely to put off many people from extending their skills and changing career focus, believes the BCS. Worse still, while the UK needs to encourage workers to access education, this change will actively discourage this practice in the IT sector.
Dr Mike Rodd, Learned Society Director at BCS, said, "Short term goals in this rapidly developing industry means it can be difficult to get employer support for education for the longer term. Given that the huge demand for IT workers far outstrips the pool of IT graduates, employers are looking for graduates from other disciplines. This funding change slams the door on many who would otherwise look for some education to support their job change.
"We are gravely concerned that the government is prepared to gamble on employees and employers picking up the cost, especially given the significance of the IT sector to the UK's economy.
"Demand for people with the right qualifications and skills to work in IT is still strong, despite the economic downturn. The IT sector is highly vulnerable to a lack of educated and skilled workers, and is already suffering. It is highly ironic that these changes are being sought at a time when the BCS is trying its best to encourage more people to consider going into IT through a range of routes.
"There appears to be a real lack of understanding on the part of the government about what will happen on the ground if this funding is removed."
The BCS recognises that prioritising funding for those without a first qualification is a fair principle, and is keen to encourage employers to pay for training. However, the expected long-term impact of this change on this sector could cost the government and the country a great deal.
The current skills shortage of IT graduates in the UK is partly being compensated for by other workers switching to a second career in the IT and Telecoms industry, which, according to the government's own figures currently employs 1 in 20, or 1.5m people and generates 55 per cent of the UK's Gross Value Added, or GVA. The GVA per IT and Telecoms job is three times the UK average. Around half of the 141,000 new entrants entering IT every year are from disciplines outside IT, and over a quarter - 43,000 - comprise people re-entering the workforce after a career break, early retirement or unemployment.