Title:  How IT education can prepare students for the IT workforce needs: Any opportunities of challenges? 

Jung Hoon Baeg, PhD
Information Institute
Florida State University
jbaeg@fsu.edu

Marcia A. Mardis, EdD
School of Information
Florida State University
marcia.mardis@cci.fsu.edu

Charles R. McClure, PhD
Information Institute
Florida State University
cmcclure@lis.fsu.edu

Sang Hoo Oh
School of Information
Florida State University
so17c@my.fsu.edu

Faye Jones, PhD
Information Institute
Florida State University
faye.jones@cci.fsu.edu

Abstract (250 words): 

Information Technology (IT) is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. Higher education and many LIS and iSchools offer undergraduate and graduate IT degrees and many community colleges do as well. However, there are some who criticize many IT education programs, arguing that they do not teach key employability skills, both technical skills and soft skills (Woodward et al., 2013). This study is the preliminary findings from an NSF Advanced Technological Education grant-funded project that shows IT skills are needed by new professionals, requested by IT employers, and two-year IT degree programs in the Northwest Florida region. Data was collected by new professionals and employer interviews, IT course syllabi, and job postings. Text mining with R were used to analyze syllabi, new professionals, and employers’ perspectives that emphasize IT skills. The preliminary findings showed that employers emphasize technical skills as well as soft skills, such as communication, self-management, and interpersonal skills. The knowledge of technical skills including data management, networking, and infrastructure designs were frequently mentioned as necessary skills from the employers’ perspective. This study may suggest the challenges and opportunities for the IT industry, new IT professionals, and especially LIS educators of IT curriculum that is part of a career pathway for students. 

Keywords:  IT Skills, IT Education, Curricula Assessment

ALISE LIS Research Area Cllassification(s): 15. LIS Education and Programs, 16. LIS Faculty, Students, 17. Pedagogy in LIS

Poster:  The .pdf file for the poster can be found here.

References

Woodward, B., Imboden, T., & Martin, N.L. (2013). An undergraduate information security program: More than a curriculum. Journal of Information Systems Education, 24(1), 63-70.