Demand for computer-skilled graduates is on the increase.

That’s the latest projection from the US Department of Labour, which estimates that the number of high-skill IT jobs will increase by 35% from 2002 to 2012 – double the growth rate for jobs overall.

Meanwhile, in the UK, strong growth is also predicted. Barrie Sherman and Phil Judkins, in their book Licensed to Work, analysed employment trends published by the OECD and predicted that computing jobs are among those that will show growth in the UK by 2010.

“These figures are not at all surprising,” said Professor Carsten Maple, Head of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Luton, situated 50km north of London.

“Computing use is constantly increasing, it’s just that often we don’t realise it because computers have become so small and integrated into our environment. For example, each time we use modern transport, there is a computer controlled system assisting us, from the brakes on you car to the aeroplane cockpit,” he said.

In fact, computer systems and software are an integral part of the world in which we live, he said. Few areas of our working and personal lives remain untouched by technology. Well-engineered, reliable and usable systems are crucial to the survival of virtually all organisations today, to the functioning of the global economy and even for our entertainment.

Professor Maple said: “The important thing for many graduates, however, is to ensure that they study courses that are vocationally relevant. At the University of Luton we place great emphasis on working with local, national and international companies, and our students have found this very useful in finding jobs. Our University has an excellent reputation for working with business and excels in graduate employment. Indeed it was ranked top university in the UK for graduate employment in both 2001 and 2002.”

Computing is an interdisciplinary subject, with historical roots in mathematics, physics and electronics. It provides routes into many different careers. People who can build and maintain computer systems and software will be in continual demand in the future.

Computing and Information Systems is a flagship Department of the University of Luton. It offers a wide range of vocationally-relevant undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It is active in research and commercial work with a wide range of organisations worldwide, especially in applicable areas such as medical visualisation, security, mobile network optimisation, video mobile, network planning, drug testing, Grid computing and distributed technologies through externally funded projects.

Student Geoff Boulton said: “The friendly working environment and helpfulness and support of the lecturers enabled me to not only complete my degree with first class honours but also to continue my studies onto a PhD programme at the University funded by a government research council.

“The active programme of overseas exchanges within the Department has allowed me to not only study in another country but to broaden my career possibilities by seeking employment overseas.

“The emphasis within the Department on current and newly evolving technologies has provided me with an invaluable skills set, much sought after by employers, upon which to build my career.

“The provision of first-class computing facilities, with the latest software packages and technologies being available, has encouraged me to explore outside of the taught syllabus and broaden the range of skills that I am able to offer any prospective employer,” he added.