School leavers urged to take up IT courses

THE downturn in the technology industry should not discourage young people from taking up college courses in this area, business leaders have warned.

A survey of school leavers has shown that more than a quarter of Leaving Certificate students want to take business and commerce courses. Only 6% were interested in computing or computer science, according to the Forfás’ Expert Group on Future Skill Needs.

Brendan Butler, director of Information and Communications Technology Ireland, said Ireland will lose out when the industry picks up if there are not enough graduates in a few years’ time. The European Commission has predicted there will be 1.7 million IT vacancies in Europe by the end of this year.