Global CIOs say IT education inadequate for workplace

The survey, carried out by Robert Half Technology UK, polled more than 1,000 chief information officers in the UK, Germany, France and Belgium, as well as Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brazil.

It noted that the problem was acute in Britain, where a further 104,000 STEM graduates are required annually, but nearly 40% of posts remain vacant.

In addition, the number of A level students studying two or more STEM subjects is declining, claimed the company, with just one third of boys and less than one fifth of girls doing so.

Graduates, particularly in STEM subjects, are lacking vital skills that UK organisations desperately need

Phil Sheridan, senior managing director, Robert Half UK, South America & Middle East

“While businesses are urgently trying to reskill their employees through internal training and development programmes, the root cause of the current skills gap lies much deeper,” said Phil Sheridan, senior managing director, Robert Half UK, South America and the Middle East.

“Recent graduates, particularly in STEM subjects, are already lacking vital skills that UK organisations desperately need.”

He said the rapid rate of technological change made the challenge for schools and colleges harder still.

“Technology is changing so rapidly that it is little surprise that education providers are struggling to teach their students skills that will still be relevant when they reach the workplace.”

One solution he suggested would be to offer work placements or ‘Year in Industry’ initiatives that will encourage prospective students.

While training standards remain the biggest concern, cyber security is a growing issue for CIOs, the survey demonstrated. A total of 59% of respondents said this was a critical area, followed by digitisation (23%), business intelligence (20%) and software/application development (18%).