Catalyst

Objectives for Catalyst

e-skills UK will work with employers and universities to promote the capabilities graduates develop from different types of IT-related degree courses and encourage curriculum development in areas of industry growth.

UK universities have an excellent track record in computer sciences, with many world class departments offering world class courses.

Through the new Catalyst programme, e-skills UK and employers will work with universities to help them build on this success and identify and address new growth markets – such as the increasing need for business-oriented, customer-focused IT professionals.

Taking action

The Catalyst programme will focus on:

• A collaborative approach to curriculum development; and
• Helping universities to showcase clearly to employers what graduates can do.

There will be a special focus on widening participation in higher education and improving the gender balance in IT.

The first stage of the Catalyst programme will focus on mapping a series of degree courses against the industry standard, employer-endorsed framework for IT professional skills and qualifications - e-skills procom - in order to:

• Identify and promote examples of best practice;
• Enable universities to showcase to employers what graduates are able to do; and
• Provide the basis for curriculum development to address any unmet needs

Last modified: 18 Nov 2008