Analysis of needs and expert’s opinions on the competency required of computer Job category for work integrated learning (WiL) in higher education

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze the needs and opinions of experts concerning competency required for computer related jobs in the present and the future. Its outcomes would be used in designing a Work-integrated learning (WiL) programs in undergraduate computer related programs (Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology and Information System) which meet quality standard specified by The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), The Association for Information Systems (AIS) and The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer - Computer Society (IEEE-CS). The forty educational institutions and industries in line with the development of hardware and software, the installation of operating system, the installation and maintenance of the network, the application of information technology and the use of information system in management were invited to participate in this study. The instruments employed for data collection were questionnaires comprising six parts: 1) General Knowledge of Computer Personnel; 2) Knowledge of Computer Engineering Personnel; 3) Knowledge of Software Engineering Personnel. 4) Knowledge of Computer Science Personnel; 5) Knowledge of Information Technology Personnel and 6) Knowledge of Information System Personnel. Statistic devices used in analyzing the data were frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The results were also compared with the performance analysis of Competency of Computer Jobs Category in ASEAN countries, Japan, Europe and America. The results were also validated by 12 specialists using a purposive sampling from educational institutions, enterprises and the professional associations. It was found that the Competency Required of Computer Job Category for educational management on WIL program were: 1) Computer Architect, 2) Computer Support, 3) Computer Specialist, 4) Project Manager, 5) Software Development, 6) Applied Program Specialist, 7) Computer Consultant, 8) Sale and Marketing and 9) Computer Education Trainer. All job positions should be consistent with the empirical data which are statistically significant at p-value =0.05. The Competency Required of Computer Job Category overall fit are accepted.