Training up for the business of IT

Silicon.com's poll on the training of IT professionals in the UK threw up some surprising results. It was easy to assume that universities are churning out computing graduates who are well equipped to build and maintain applications and networks, and that vendor certification schemes are at hand to help them specialise.

But the majority of the respondents told a different story. They claimed computing degrees don't offer the practical experience an IT professional needs - especially when it comes to development and support. And many institutions teach theoretical courses that are years out of date by the time a student joins the workforce.

Most employers recognise this, and only use the degree as a sign that the candidate is bright and able to learn. Degrees may help people get their first job, but won't guarantee success after that.

As for vendor certification schemes, they clearly are used in industry to demonstrate competence - but only because there are no better options. IT professionals need some form of accreditation, but vendor certificates are only available for a few products, and they force people to learn "the minutiae of APIs" rather than "the ability to actually deliver solutions with the relevant technology", as one employer said in response to the survey.

What's more, the schemes offered by Microsoft, Novell, Lotus and Cisco are expensive, leaving people who don't have employer sponsorship at a major disadvantage.

So how can academia and industry work together to remove the gap between theory and practice?

One answer is to increase the crossover between IT and business training. Dr Adrian Jackson from the University of Huddersfield said his School of Computing and Mathematics offers vocational courses such as Computing in Business, which have close links to local employers. "In general, these have very high employment rates on graduation," he said.

Some of our respondents even said the traditional IT degree is counterproductive: "'Computer Science degree - you'd be better off with Wood Technology', is the attitude of some employers," said Tony Larks, director of sales and marketing at The Research Group. And after two days of interviewing computing graduates, one IT manager told Silicon.com: "We were appalled at their level of knowledge on even the most rudimentary technology. I have come to the conclusion that these degrees are being handed out like sweets - in the foreseeable future I will not include this as a requirement for potential employees."

Fortunately, more business degrees are offering IT courses that include the principles of software development. Businesses too are reacting to the problem: a recent computing student now working at National Power said most companies offer graduate induction programmes for their IT staff, ensuring that "an IT degree is no longer a prerequisite for a grad programme".

As technology gains strategic importance within organisations, business acumen is vital. Maurice Dean, a consultant to AT&T Unisource's Internet Planning Division, gave the following advice to would-be IT professionals: "I'd recommend anyone who is thinking about IT to learn SQL and C++ in their spare time, then study business or economics. This will help them understand accountant/product manager-speak."

The root of the problem is not the culture clash between business and IT professionals. It's not hard to acquire a common language, through better internal communication or a training course. Far more problematic is the lack of professional certification for IT staff who want to get to the top. They need independent recognition of their excellence, but the only available training is in pure technology or vendor-promoted products. Industry needs a definitive training route which combines the theory and practice of business technology.

Professions such as accountancy, law and medicine all have training that combines three years of theory with a few years of apprenticeship, under scrutiny from their elders. But could such a formal structure be achieved in the fast-moving, hype-ridden IT industry?

Ian Rickwood, CEO of the Institute for the Management of Information Systems (Imis), said the main obstacles to 'professionalising' IT are the skills shortage and the rapid change of essential skills. "We work with universities to keep their courses up to date, and we act as an examining board for business and technology courses worldwide, but you can't change courses every year.

"The only way to make the IT industry professional is to encourage employers to set standards themselves," he added. "But you never see ads saying 'preference will be given to BCS-qualified staff.'"

The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) created the first scheme to deliver IT apprenticeships within major companies. This could be the practical component so many IT careerists are crying out for, but so far, relatively few people have signed up. "We are trying to change a mindset here," explained WCIT's clerk, Gillian Davis. "Our member companies are having to re-evaluate their whole training ethos."

The IT National Training Organisation (ITNTO), a government-recognised scheme, is having more success. There are 5,000 modern apprentices in the UK, who study for NVQs in IT while working for companies such as EDS. The schemes are currently aimed at school-leavers, but there are plans to create an apprenticeship for graduates too.

"We want to combine theory with practical experience at all levels," ITNTO development director, Gordon Ewan, said. "Our apprenticeships are currently aimed at school-leavers because we are trying to get employers to consider non-graduate recruits. But we would like to follow this with graduate apprenticeships, for computer scientists and others."

So far, only the Electronics & Software Services NTO is offering IT apprenticeships to graduates, and these are only available as part of their degree course. But the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) plans to extend the scheme to existing employees. "We are about to invite a wide range of NTOs to set up apprenticeship schemes within SMEs for long-term employees," said Jan McFall, policy manager at the DfEE's Higher Education, Quality & Employability division. "But whether these apprenticeships will include IT depends on the enthusiasm of the NTOs to put in a bid."

So the ball is rolling towards a more integrated training experience for IT staff. But it will take time for the bulk of employers to accept their responsibilities and offer their new recruits an independent qualification. "The IT industry is growing so fast that most companies just don't have enough places on their in-house training schemes," said Ewan.

The only possible quick fix lies in the unexpected guise of the millennium bug. Imis' Rickwood said medics and engineers only attained professional status after disasters forced people to set standards. He joked that a similar fate may await the IT industry: "Rumour has it that after the millennium, when many systems may fail, people will want to professionalise IT to get the cowboys that dropped them in it."