How do IT students stay up to date with employers’ skill requirements?

McGill, T.J. and Dixon, M.W. (2008) How do IT students stay up to date with employers’ skill requirements? In: Tomei, L., (ed.) Online and distance learning : concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications. Information Science Reference, Hershey, PA, pp. 2775-2781.

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Abstract

The information technology industry is subject to rapid change. There have been concerns expressed in the literature about the ability of information technology professionals to keep up to date with developments, and it is likely that it is even more difficult for students to do so. New graduates require marketable skills in order to gain good employment, but the skills most in demand change regularly. This paper reports on a project that investigated the channels of information that undergraduate and postgraduate telecommunications management and electronic commerce students use to keep up to date with employers’ needs. The role of instructors in this process is also discussed.