"COMPUTING" is really a very ordinary straightforward business", says Michael Ryan, head of computing at DCU. "There is nothing strange or esoteric about it you don't have to be a mathematical genius you don't even have to have higher maths. Any one, from any kind of background, can make a career in computing. It is not like electronics which is an engineering/ technological discipline and where students do need a technological/mathematical ability."
Prof Ryan should know, he is head of what is possibly the top computer applications course in the system at Dublin City University. He is concerned that students believe that you need to be some sort of computer buff or techno nerd in order to choose computing as a career. "Computing is a way of doing things in business or industry it's a system of ordering, organising and planning used in just about every type of business. Increasingly business, financial and other work processes are computer run and just about every kind of operation needs people who can understand and work with computer systems.
As far as he is concerned, it is a bit like "learning to ride a bicycle. There is a certain technique involved and you will feel a bit wobbly at first, but everyone can learn."
Which is consoling, because the jobs situation is so good for people with computer software qualifications, that students are being snapped up before they even graduate. "There is a dramatic shortage of software graduates," says Seamus Gallen responsible for this area at the IDA. "It is the ideal opportunity for young people who want good career opportunities and good salaries."
John Doupe at Marlborough Recruitment says that as well as visiting the colleges to find software personnel, companies are also asking his agency to try to find raw graduates with degrees at salaries of up £15,000 and with cert/diplomas at £11,000 12,000.
Most of DCU's graduates have a choice of jobs before they graduates at Cork RTC, another top college in the computer applications field, Brendan Murphy reports that they have a queue of disappointed employers for whom they simply could not provide enough graduates.
GIRLS It's an area which everyone agrees there is tremendous scope for girls. At the IDA Seamus Gallen, who is closely involved with the multinational software companies establishing themselves here in large numbers, is convinced that are tremendous opportunities for girls. "When we first started our computer applications degree," says Prof Ryan, "up to 50 per cent of our intake were female and the top place in the class regularly went to a girl. In the meantime, the number of girls applying has fallen dramatically and they now constitute less than 20 per cent of, the class.
He feels that with the advent of the home computer and computer games, as these games appear to be mainly male oriented girls have come to see computers as a "male" thing. Like the IDA he is adamant that there are wonderful opportunities for girls.
JOBS These exist across a wide spectrum of business and industry and at many levels. Firstly, there is a big demand for computer applications people in banks and other financial institutions, in business generally and indeed throughout all areas of economic activity. So it is a good route into almost any sphere.
Then there are the multinational software companies operating in Ireland. Five of the top 10 international software companies are operating in Ireland and there is a multitude of small native companies also producing software. Ireland is the second largest exporter of computer software in the world, after the US this should give some idea of the jobs potential in the Republic.
Thirdly, there are the hardware and software providers who increasingly operate their technical advisory, support and sales services from Ireland. Gateway 2000, for example, employs 400 people in Dublin who are providing information, technical backup service and who are marketing computers all over Europe. A consumer in Germany, France or Holland rings a number and is connected to its central operations office in Dublin where staff speaking German, French etc answer the telephones and deal with the customer. If you buy a computer in Germany, as often as not the technical support line offered to you is to an office in Dublin.
There is also a lot of growth in what is called "localisation" that is re writing, explaining and adapting software in the different languages. These areas have meant a huge growth in demand for people with good language skills and some knowledge of computer systems.
Another software growth area 15 multi media computer packages involving sound and video as well as text. This should encourage creative young people with an interest in these areas to set their sights on jobs in software, according to Barry Murphy of the National Software Directorate.
COURSES There is a lot of confusion among CAO applicants as to what the different computer software courses involve. Most of them are called computer applications, applied computing, computer studies or computer systems. Generally speaking, this is mainly a matter of terminology and there is little difference between them. Students are not always aware that there is there is a sizeable business studies component in those courses as well not surprisingly as many of the graduates will end up applying computer systems in business. Trinity's management science/information systems is an example of this.
Courses described as computer science can be more mathematically based and involve some hardware, but not necessarily in all cases check the college brochures carefully.
The phrase information technology sounds as if it might be definitely hardware, but it usually used to describe the broad software area, so it does not usually refer to an engineering based course. In the case of UCG, the information technology degree is very much a software/business applications one.
UL provides the strongest concentration of computing courses in the State. A brief outline of what these involve may help to define the different types of course. Languages/computing is mainly a language based courses aimed at people going to work in software companies with a thorough knowledge of language and some knowledge of software computer systems is the classic software degree with various business modules applied maths/ computing would be aimed at those with good maths ability interested in software development information technology/ telecommunications is software but with more mathematical content and aimed at people interested in telecommunications computer engineering may sound totally hardware, but it actually has a strong software content.
To match the huge growth in localisation and computer support/advisory services jobs, there has been a matching growth in computing/languages courses such as in UL, DCU and Trinity. These should be attractive to those interested in languages and the jobs potential is superb at the moment.
For those with, say an arts, science or business degree, the one year post graduate diploma in computing in UL, UCC Maynooth or RTC Athlone can be a good way of topping up with a job qualification but most experts advise opting for a computer or computer/languages straight off if you want to get seriously into the software business.
Countdown spoke to a wide selection of recruiters/employers and those involved in developing the software industry here and there was unanimous agreement that the best courses were the computer applications degrees in DCU, UL, RTC Waterford and RTC Cork and probably in that order, though not necessarily. DCU and UL have established a real primacy in the area and the two RTCs are and impressing employers with their graduates. The work placement element involved in those four degrees were significant factors in the employers' evaluation and, there was some interest expressed in how the UCG information technology degree would turn out as it also involves a six month industrial placement.
PLACES If the jobs are there and there is such a dramatic shortage of graduates why not create more places, you might ask? Plans are already being hatched. Of the 6,200 new places which the universities are to create over the next five years, 1,200 will be in software. The IDA is urging a rapid increase in computer places and DCU may, be able to increase its autumn intake from the 135 of last year. The new follow on computing degrees in the RTCs are going some way towards closing the gap.
TRINITY The information evening tomorrow and another one next Thursday are now both booked out so there is no point in contacting the college for tickets.