ACS Unveils Education Blueprint for the Information Economy
Monday 30 March 1998 - The National Council of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) has released a comprehensive strategy for IT education that is designed to equip Australia to play a leading role in the Information Economy.
The Society’s peak decision-making body comprising technical experts from a broad range of industry and business sectors, Government and academia, the ACS Council met in Melbourne over the weekend to discuss key issues influencing Australia’s IT industry.
In addition to the discussion on education, the Council also voiced its concern over the Government’s decision to provide free and exclusive use of spectrum for digital television to existing commercial networks until 2008, and called for Government guarantees that regional users would not be disadvantaged from any further privatisation of Telstra.
Qualified for Success in IT Education
The ACS "Qualified for Success" blueprint for IT Education contains 10 recommendations calling for greater cooperation between universities, Government, the profession and industry; collaborative investment in IT&T; and increased funding for tertiary courses.
In announcing the strategy, ACS President, Prins Ralston, once again stressed the significant potential of the IT industry to contribute to Australia’s economy, as well as pointing to the many ways it could enhance the education system itself.
"Information technology and telecommunications will profoundly change the way we interact, work and learn over the next 20 years," said Mr Ralston.
"Tertiary institutions will be critical agents in developing the skills required to operate in the knowledge society. The role of universities in explicit vocational preparation at the professional level must be affirmed.
"The ACS has been involved in educational standards for 30 years and is well aware of the implications of these recommendations for Government, academia, industry and the profession.
"If Australia wants to reap the benefit of IT in building a solid future for our country, then we must invest in IT education to develop the skills base necessary to grow and support not only this industry, but an effective user base across all sectors of the community," he said.
The "Qualified for Success" strategy grew out of the Society’s submission to the recent Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy (West Enquiry).
Some of the Society’s key recommendations include that:
· Public investment in higher education be expanded to include both formal post graduate programs and shorter industry refresher programs for graduates.
· Work begin on a cooperative IT strategy for the university system by the AVCC, DEETYA, the profession and industry to develop common hardware, software and content delivery for universities.
· Capital funding for universities be weighted to encouraging collaborative investment in IT&T to support the innovative delivery of educational services both domestically and internationally.
· The IT discipline should be reclassified to reflect funding levels that are at least equivalent to those applicable to the laboratory-based physical sciences and electronic engineering.
· Academic salaries should be aligned to relevant industry benchmarks to retain staff and encourage their on-going development and re-skilling; and
· Capital funding must be structured to encourage universities to invest in IT for course delivery, among others.
Late last year the ACS announced it had joined forces with the PAGE group of universities and the AIIA to deliver on-line IT Management courses via the Internet and World Wide Web for IT professionals who wanted to study from their home or office. These courses commenced in February this year and are tailored to meet the specific needs of the Australian IT industry.
Remote Australians Need Spectrum
The ACS Council expressed its disappointment at the Government’s non-competitive approach to the use of spectrum for digital broadcasting, saying the decision to award free spectrum to existing networks is a lost opportunity.
"In closing off the Australian market from any new TV entrants until 2008, the Government is limiting the benefits of this exciting new technology for Australian industry," said Mr Ralston.
"With so many key players willing to bid for the spectrum, the decision to give it away is hard to understand. At the very least, the money generated from an auction could have provided valuable services for remote Australians who could be disadvantaged by this policy.
"It is of some comfort that the existing networks have been limited to replicating only their current services on the digital spectrum. The opportunities that the convergence of these various technologies provide need to be managed to maximise the cost effective delivery of services to all Australians and the development and growth of Australia’s information industry.
"It would appear that instead of encouraging a range of viable and competitive industries, the Government is nurturing the entrenched providers at the expense of the entire community," he said.
Telstra Services Must Be Guaranteed
The ACS has also repeated concerns that any sell-off of Telstra must be accompanied by legislation guaranteeing future service levels for regional and remote users.
Mr Ralston said regardless of their location, all Australians must have access to universal services and untimed local voice/data calls, with a maximum price cap for those in remote locations.
"If the sale goes ahead, the Government should use some of the income to accelerate its program to deliver ISDN/cable services to all regional households, instead of sticking with the current, unworkable delivery timeframe of between 20-30 years.
"We would see it as a positive move if money raised from the sale of Telstra was used to deliver tangible benefits to remote Australians and ensure they are fully equipped to play their part in the information age," Mr Ralston said.
The ACS also wants the Government to establish through law a Communications Infrastructure Council to impose standards and oversee the activities of all communications providers in building or maintaining infrastructure.
The complete Qualified for Success Communique from the ACS National Council is at http://www.acs.org.au/president/1998/past/edpol.htm
See also "Avoiding 60's Regulations for 90s Technology" - ACS Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Subscription Television Services, 25 August 1992
This media release is located on the ACS web site at http://www.acs.org.au/news/comm3003.htm
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Prins Ralston, ACS President, Tel: (0411) 755 069, Email: P_Ralston@ntu.edu.au
Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9980 8060 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au
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