Career Insight - Computer and Information Science
The computer and information science degree at UniSA offers numerous programs to prepare students for employment across the entire gamut of the professional Information Technology (IT) sector.
Some of the roles our graduates perform include business information systems specialists who help business optimise processes to add value to the business using information systems; technology builders who engage in software engineering and development; service provision specialists who develop and protect network security; and creative roles such as multimedia and mobile applications development.
In order to maximise the relevance of our graduate skills in the workplace we regularly consult with industry when determining program curriculum. Conversely we have also developed the Industry Alliance program to engage students with industry even before they finish their degrees so they have an understanding and appreciation of what qualities and expectations employers have.
We aim to give our students a solid grounding in areas where they can more quickly add strategic value to the organisation. As well as having sound technical knowledge, our graduates also leave us with a strong skills base in the areas of networking and teamwork, which are qualities cited by employers as being essential.
The biggest challenge facing education in this sector is to break down the community perception of the IT student stereotype. Graduates have far more wide-reaching and challenging jobs than just writing programs and fixing computers. Being able to provide a real picture of what it is like to be an IT professional and the associated challenges and rewards that go with such a job should help diversify our student intake.
With the advancement of technology, new career paths and options are constantly evolving and we are working hard to develop educational and training programs for students in those areas as they emerge to provide an optimal balance between the education that lasts their entire life and the training that enables them to be industry ready to begin to "add value" to the organisation immediately after graduation.
Professor Andy Koronios is the Head of the School of Computer and Information Science.