Computer Science graduates have the highest unemployment rate

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

There is a difference between computer science and IT for business, in the same way there is a difference between physics and engineering.

Yes but Computer Science in the good unis will stretch your mind and challenge you enough to make you employable at entry level i.e. you will have the mental capacity to quickly pick up and apply new skills and technology.

[Joeman]

Or did thy not teach you the basics of research and analysis on your course?

Durham seems to have the basics, bit of Java, C, web etc. Anything that doesn't measure upto your standards?

LOL, they obviously taught me something useful as I was able to leave uni with a degree in Physics, and walk straight into a very well paid technical role – something it would seem CompSci grads don’t seem to manage…

Oh, and if CompSci grads all share your belief that insulting people you’ve never met with sarcastic comments on a public forum is a desirable character trait and a successful way to win a debate, then maybe that explains the real reason CompSci grads cant get jobs….

[doodab]

Yes but Computer Science in the good unis will stretch your mind and challenge you enough to make you employable at entry level i.e. you will have the mental capacity to quickly pick up and apply new skills and technology.

You could say that about any numerate degree these days. I would expect anyone who has a good physics or maths degree to be able to pick up programming in a modern language without too much hassle.

The trouble is that from an academic perspective computing crosses a lot of boundaries, at a lot of older universities computer science will have started out as something the mathematics department did and would probably have a very theoretical slant to it, whereas day to day in industry and business it has more in common with engineering. I think for in depth knowledge of skills more immediately applicable to the workplace one might want to look at a "software engineering" or "computing" degree.

I'd agree that comp sci grads ought to have some knowledge of the low level workings of a modern computer, I would have though that stuff like the hardware/software interface, OS design and compiler design would be at least elective courses, but I don't really think that web coding skills that will be out of date in a few years ought to be an end in themselves.

[BlasterBates]

I think students should be able to work. I did a degree in Electrical Engineering and I found I could work quite easily in my field without too much difficulty. Like anyone else I could sit design and electronic circuits or electrical equipment without any problem. I once spent a month as part of my training in a mechanical engineering department and I couldn't do the work at all simply because my "mechanical engineering" module in the first year was inadequate preparation. So if graduates are coming out and can't do the job they need to look at what they're teaching them. Engineering degrees should be accredited by professional engineers, because in the end only a small fraction go into academia, the vast majority go and work as engineers.

[Joeman]

The trouble is that from an academic perspective computing crosses a lot of boundaries, at a lot of older universities computer science will have started out as something the mathematics department did and would probably have a very theoretical slant to it

yes, thats thats why its call "Computer Science"

They should have no right to class what they teach these days

(Durham seems to have the basics, bit of Java, C, web etc)

as a "science", its what many of us on this forum do for a living or even in my case as a hobby.. change the name to "Computer Skills" becasue thats all it is...

[doodab]

yes, thats thats why its call "Computer Science"

They should have no right to class what they teach these days as a "science", its what many of us on this forum do for a living or even in my case as a hobby.. change the name to "Computer Skills" becasue thats all it is...

Yes, that's why i mentioned software engineering and computing degrees. Computer science to me is more about training future researchers who will go on to build AI machines and prove P!=NP. You ought to be able to pick up waht you need to function in a commercial IT environment once you start work but that isn't what you are there to learn.

[Spacecadet]

Not suprised - they dont actually teach them anything useful anymore..
Got an intern working here at ClientCo who's a 2nd year CompSci undergrad on a work placement. When we started asking him what they actually tought in Uni these days we were amazed!
they guy had never even heard of "Assembler", and the only programming language he had seen (not coded in) is Java... He's a nice guy, but the stuff they are teaching undergrads these days isnt worth Sh1t...

You complain when they don't teach them any languages

yes, thats thats why its call "Computer Science"

They should have no right to class what they teach these days

(Durham seems to have the basics, bit of Java, C, web etc)

as a "science", its what many of us on this forum do for a living or even in my case as a hobby.. change the name to "Computer Skills" becasue thats all it is...

Then you complain again when they do

[d000hg]

yes, thats thats why its call "Computer Science"

They should have no right to class what they teach these days as a "science", its what many of us on this forum do for a living or even in my case as a hobby.. change the name to "Computer Skills" becasue thats all it is...

No, you're still wrong. Only a minority of what they teach is hands-on programming. The rest is theory... algorithms, data structures, logic, how to engineer a software project, etc.

Is Joe some kind of sleeper-sockie? Been around for years with no posting and suddenly springs to life?

[BrilloPad]

I think students should be able to work.

Even drama students?

[Spacecadet]

Even drama students?

Especially drama students, they can at least pretend to be enjoying it