IT skills gap: A survey of IT students’ knowledge in 4 key domains

Abstract

Information Technology (IT) skills gap discourse suggests a mismatch between what students are acquiring in terms of knowledge and skills in their education versus what employers believe are useful skills for doing day to day tasks. Students have a preconception of what is more useful for their careers in terms of skills and tend to value those important skills. However, their notion might not be aligned with market realities, which results in less than desirable employment status. This study serves as the first step in this process by analyzing the skills of college students in IT-related majors and offering suggestions that can benefit not only the students but also industry companies and educational institutions. A survey is conducted where IT students rank their level of expertise in multiple domains of IT. Implications are drawn and a conclusion is presented.