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Informing Science + IT Education Conference 2003 Proceedings
| Informing Science + IT Education Conference |
| Pori, Finland June 24-27, 2003 |
| Informing Clients in Education about Instructional Offerings and Careers in the ICT Industry |
| Technikon Pretoria, South Africa |
| Organisations of the twenty first century are increasingly dependent on knowledge, information- and |
| communication technology (ICT). Due to the changes in modern organisations, a new role and set of expectations |
| have emerged for ICT workers. Academic institutions have a responsibility to determine the needs of the ICT |
| industry and develop the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities in their learners, through relevant instructional |
| offerings and course contents. |
| Companies in the ICT industry regard higher education institutions as important clients. On the other hand, the |
| clientele for higher education institutions include the learners, the ICT industry and the public. This article suggests |
| that higher education institutions should remain informed about the needs of the ICT industry and, at the same |
| time, keep their learners and other clients informed about these needs, ca-reer- and training options in the ICT |
| field. It is argued that the management of this “two-way” practical informing science process -to satisfy both |
| stakeholders- is the responsibility of higher education institu-tions. |
| The questions that continually need to be answered through such an informing process are : To what ex-tent has |
| the ICT world changed and what is the influence of such changes on the demands made of ICT workers? Do these |
| changing demands have an influence on the ICT training institutions and how should academic institutions adapt |
| their courses accordingly? How should learners be kept informed of the changing industry needs and instructional |
| offerings, enabling them to make wiser career choices? |
| Keywords: Informing Science, Information Systems, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Higher |
| Education, Business Analysis, System Analysis, Relationship Management, Information Technology (IT) |
ISSN
1535-07-03
Unless otherwise indicated, this paper has undergone blind external review by three or more reviewers.
Types of Papers: A Best Paper, Regular Paper, Short Paper, Informal Paper,
Unrefereed Panel Paper
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