Volume 4
Volume 4, Number 92 |
October 9, 2006 |
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Rathika Rajaravivarma
Ken Surendran
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Abstract: The present enrollment reduction in CS, CIS and MIS programs may not be due to just a dip in the business cycle. Apart from the lack of recovery from the internet investment bubble-burst, the continued migration of entry-level system development jobs due to offshore outsourcing, could be a contributor to this reduction in enrollment. In addition to reduced enrollment, student retention in these programs seems to be another issue that needs to be examined. However, at the same time, there appears to be a steady demand for higher-level IT professionals and IT literate professionals in other disciplines. Since the CS, CIS, and MIS graduates are developed, from employment point of view, to assume entry-level jobs in the IT field, there seems to be a mismatch between the skills industries require and the skills with which these programs prepare the students. In this paper, the authors have compiled a few strategies academia could consider for addressing these issues. Some of these strategies are based on deliberations that took place during a special session at a professional conference. Also, the paper has suggestions for preparing graduates with skills closer to the market demands.
Keywords: offshore outsourcing, outsourcing, enrollment, retention, CS curricula, IS curricula
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Recommended Citation: Rajaravivarma and Surendran (2006). Coping with Offshore Outsourcing and Enhancing Student Retention. Information Systems Education Journal, 4 (92). http://isedj.org/4/92/. ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2005: §2364. ISSN: 1542-7382.)