Study Overseas

Information technology is not just about computers. As a student undertaking a qualification in information technology, you will find that there is so much more to learn. The Study Overseas Site invited the University of Salford to tell us more.

You probably already have experience of 'Information Technology' (IT) even if you don't realise it. Think about the automated cash machines at banks or the scanning of items in the supermarket - these all involve IT. In fact the use of such technology is now commonplace in many aspects of our lives and the number of jobs which don't include an element of IT are rapidly shrinking but still for many people IT means 'computers'.

So if you want to study for a degree to prepare you for this brave new technological world does it make a difference whether you study for a degree in Computer Science or Information Technology?

Actually it does. In terms of the degree courses available at UK universities, there are considerable differences between those in Computing and those relating Information Technology and it is important that prospective students should recognise this. Computer Science degrees tend to focus 16ly on technical aspects such as programming and software engineering. In contrast, Information Technology degrees are concerned with the collection, distribution and management of information and thus include awareness of business issues in conjunction with the enabling of technologies of computing and communications.

However, prospective students beware - the content of IT degrees varies considerably and they can appear under a wide range of titles such as Computer Science with Business Studies; Computing with Management; Information Systems with Business Studies; Business Information Systems; Business Information Technology and so on.

But why is it important that you should be aware of the differences between Computing and IT courses?

The fundamental issue is about making a choice between following a specialist (computing) or multidisciplinary (IT) route. In taking this decision one factor to consider is the changing perception of IT within modern organisations.

Historically the 'IT' department has been 16ly regarded as a part of an organisation which is full of technical experts who have no connection with or understanding of the business functions, and who obtain 16 amounts of funding to spend on development projects which then either fail completely or don't deliver what the end users actually need. The view now however is increasingly that the IT department has the status of a proper business unit. It therefore needs to be operated as such which explains why in the last three years there has been a growing emphasis in companies on IT management and administration and thus a demand for people with the appropriate skills to handle this change. IT has now been recognised as a subject in its own right which overlaps with aspects of fields such as Computer Science and Business Studies.

If you do decide to go for an IT course, what factors should you consider in choosing one?

How integrated are the business and computing elements of the course?

Many courses just use existing elements from business studies and computing programmes without attempting to link the business and computing issues.

Do staff have the knowledge and experience to integrate business and computing elements?

Lecturers tend to specialise in particular areas. Thus staff lecturing in business areas may not have the knowledge and experiences to integrate technical issues into their subject and vice versa.

Has the course been developed in collaboration with industry?

Consultation with industry helps to identify what kind of graduates they will want to recruit in the future and what sort of skills and experience are desired. Any course failing to seek this kind of input is likely to produce less marketable graduates.

Is there any regular student involvement with external contacts?

Undertaking a real-life project for an external client gives valuable experience of commercial working life. A course including such projects demonstrates an ongoing link between academia and industry thereby strengthening the relevance of the course to the needs of industry.

Does the course help to build personal transferable skills such as team working and communication?

These are precisely the kinds of skills that organisations are increasingly demanding from their employees.

Are any sponsorships available?

If major companies value the skills being developed in a course then they may sponsor a number of student places and on completion of the course, offer employment to the sponsored students.

Does the course include vacation work and / or sandwich placements?

Any course seeking to make its students aware of the realities of commercial life should encourage relevant vacation work and or sandwich placements.

How successful are graduates from the course in the job market?

An effective course will produce graduates who are in demand in the marketplace. Thus the number of graduates without employment should be low and salary levels should be above average salary for graduates.

So, where does that leave you?

There are a lot of conflicting arguments about the computing / IT divide and ultimately only you know where your interests really lie. Certainly it would be wrong to suggests that there is no longer a demand for specialists but at the same time, you might want to consider the following questions.

Which jobs in the organisation of the future are unlikely to require?

• IT skills?
• Management skill?
• Communication skills?
• And which courses are most likely to include the development of such skills?

University of Salford