Initiating IT interest is vital to the economy

CONTRARY to the popular image of hi-tech nerds as high achievers, it seems our brightest students find computers a bore.

At least that is the considered opinion of Canadian expert David Parnas, a world leader in software who heads a research team involved in projects under way at the University of Limerick (UL). A key question being examined in a wide-ranging project in which the Government is injecting 5 million, is how to convince young adults to take up computer science.

With many computer companies mired in difficulty, the industry is facing a personnel crisis as firms struggle to fill 14,000 jobs over the next three years.

It would be difficult to exaggerate the extent of the problem. This year UL has a shortfall of 150 for computer science. Over a four year period that means a drop of about 600 graduates.

Given the importance of the information technology business to Ireland’s economy, it is vital to make this career more interesting so that our brightest students will be enticed to enter the hi-tech race.