"New School of Thought"
InformationWeek (02/14/05) No. 1026, P. 39; Malykhina, Elena
Leading schools have started to offer interdisciplinary programs that blend IT studies with high-demand skills and business courses to produce IT professionals who can more effectively function in an environment where business and technological prowess must be applied in equal measure. The Computer Research Association's Taulbee Survey concludes that undergraduate enrollment in U.S. computer science and engineering programs has significantly declined in recent years due to the dot-com meltdown and the growing popularity of offshoring IT work. Professionals cannot survive in the turbulent job market on IT skills alone; they must also be adept problem solvers, communicators, team players, and innovators. For instance, the optimal game industry leader would be skilled in game design, computer engineering, and art, and Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center offers a concentration in all three areas and reinforces the skills students acquire by having them participate in hands-on, real-world projects. One such project is the development of the HazMat Game, a video-game technology for the New York City Fire Department that can be used to train first responders in events involving dangerous materials or weapons of mass destruction. Entertainment Technology Center co-director Donald Marinelli says the increasing use of digital media calls for professionals with both technology and storytelling skills. Meanwhile, Stanford University's Technology Ventures Program features in-class student collaboration with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, and summer mentorships. "Having the classroom and real-world experience with business and management, in addition to the technical side of the computer-science degree, means that there are a lot more options [for] jobs," notes Stanford student Steve Garrity.
Full Article: http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60400089
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