Declining enrolments and skills shortages threatens future of ICT

Sydney, Australia, 14 June 2012: The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has announced its support for a new national ICT curriculum but insists that more needs to be done to address declining enrolments in secondary and tertiary ICT courses in order to ensure Australia has enough qualified ICT professionals to sustain the future of the ICT workforce.

In its submission to the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority’s (ACARA) paper ‘Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Technologies’, ACS CEO Alan Paterson warns that the continuing decline in ICT course enrolments combined with an increase in ICT skills shortages is threatening the development of Australia’s $100b digital economy.

“In Australia, ICT skills shortages continued to grow by up to 14,000 extra ICT jobs in 2012 and 35,000 by 2014. At the same time, curriculum initiatives in ICT at the secondary level have not gone far enough to encourage high-achieving students in Years 11 and 12 to study tertiary ICT courses or promote the discipline as a rewarding and vibrant career. 

“Over the past decade, universities have not been successful attracting bright school leavers to consider ICT as a study area, compared to other professions such as (law and medicine). As a consequence, many students with an undergraduate degree have not been able to secure professional ICT employment,” he said.

Mr Patterson said that many of the issues plaguing the development of ICT in Australia can be identified at the school and tertiary curricular levels, these include:

• ICT university enrolments have dropped by 50 per cent in the last decade and by 40 per cent in the vocational sector.
• ICT as a general discipline is less likely to attract high-achieving school leavers (ATARs of more than 90) into tertiary study but is more likely to admit students with ATARs of less than 50.
• In Australia, less than 50 per cent of ICT professionals typically possess a degree level qualification in ICT, despite the availability of many potential employees.
• Skills shortages in ICT continue to grow despite demand forecasts of 21,000 jobs in 2013.

“The ACS believes that excellence in ICT can only be achieved through a national educational framework that meets and exceeds world best standards. To do this, the ACS has set out the following recommendations to assist in achieving a steady production of skilled and qualified entrants into the profession:

1. In order to convey the indispensible role of ICT in our daily lives, the ACS recommends that ICT be recognized as subject in its own right (from Kindergarten through to Year 12) and not a sub-set of ‘Digital Technologies’ under the new ‘Technologies ‘curriculum’.
2. ICT should be a mandatory subject up to Year 10. Currently, students are only required to study Digital Technology to Year 8, diminishing the significance of ICT in the curriculum.
3. Stronger guidelines to assist teachers in making decisions on ICT curriculum delivery, in line with national ICT professional standards, which recognise changes in ICT skills over time.
4. Improved coordination between business, government to foster the development of ICT at the secondary and tertiary levels to encourage the growth of more qualified ICT professional to support Australia’s digital economy.
5. The ACS also recommends that the subject ‘Digital Technologies’ be renamed ‘Information and Communication Technologies (abbreviated ICT). This is critical to ensure the prevalence of the discipline and profession into the future.

“More research needs to be done to understand why, despite the ever more compelling opportunities of ICT, not enough students are choosing ICT as a career. Without skilled ICT workers, Australia’s ICT development and capability will erode, further limiting the opportunities for our youth to participate in the most vibrant sector of our economy,” said Mr Patterson.

Media Enquiries

Ashford Pritchard at Launch Group e: ashford@launchgroup.com.au 

P: 02 9492 1000 | M: 0411 020 680

Sarah Jane Williams at Launch Group e: sarahajane@launchgoup.com.au

P: 02 9492 1040 | M: 0409 362 675

About the ACS

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the recognised professional association for those working in Information and Communications Technology, seeking to raise the standing of ICT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the ICT sector, committed to ensuring the beneficial use of ICT for all Australians. It provides both members and non-members with opportunities for professional education, networking and certification, as well as enabling them to contribute to the development of their profession. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.