Leading the shift in Business Technology Education

Transcription

1 Leading the shift in Business Technology Education

2 ITAC Talent Inspiring Tech Careers Inspiring Tech Careers Thank you for your interest in the ITAC Talent Business Technology Des carrières technologiques inspirantes Management (BTM) program. ITAC Talent is ITAC s recently created division dedicated to proactively addressing the long-term talent and skills requirements of Canadian businesses, government and organizations. We are creating the skills for the digital economy and growing the talent pipeline. We inspire young people to choose technology careers, help transform education to accelerate the flow of talented people from all backgrounds into technology careers, support diversity in the industry, and help shape public policy to support the growth of talent. In this information kit we ve included background on the ITAC Talent Business Technology Management (BTM) program along with ways your institution can become involved with this important initiative. For more details on how you or your institution can participate, please contact us directly at info@itactalent.ca. We look forward to hearing from you. 2

3 FACT The growing skills gap is the greatest setback to the success of Canadian business the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says in its report, Tackling The Top 10 barriers to Competitiveness Business Technology Management Leading the shift in Business Technology Education The Business Technology Management (BTM) program is a post-secondary professional program that focuses on producing graduates who will become leaders of technology-enabled change in organizations. The BTM was introduced by ITAC Talent in 2009 initially at the undergraduate level in response to the feedback that new ICT graduates didn t have the skills needed by businesses. Working together with academic institutions, industry and sector associations, ITAC Talent has defined a set of learning outcomes and competency standards required by industry, drawing heavily on relevant international standards for similar programs. BTM Learning Outcomes and Competency Standards have been developed for master s, baccalaureate, diploma and certificate type programs. BTM Learning Outcomes & Competency Standards AREA TYPES Integrative Core Foundation KNOWLEDGE AREAS Integrative Processes, Projects and Change Technology in Business Business Technology Personal and Interpersonal The BTM is based on a set of learning outcomes and competency standards. It does not prescribe curriculum, but rather the things that students should learn and know when they graduate from the program and enter the workforce. 3

4 Schools Offering BTM Programs in Canada Acadia University, NS University of Waterloo/Wilfrid Laurier University, ON Ryerson University, ON BTM - A Success Story The BTM is attracting students who are interested in changing the world through technology. There are many rewarding jobs and careers within the field and the BTM is an exciting new portal for these students. Since its development in 2009 BTM has impacted thousands of graduates and is currently offered at dozens of post-secondary institutions across Canada. BTM applications are rising by an average of 24% per year and the placement rate for graduates is well over 90%. Wilfrid Laurier University, ON York University, ON University of Toronto at Mississauga, ON Laval University, QC Université du Québec à Montreal, QC Université du Québec à Outaouais, QC Université du Québec à Rimouski, QC Sherbrooke University, QC Concordia University, QC [View the map in your browser] University of Alberta, AB University of Calgary, AB University of British Columbia, BC Simon Fraser University, BC Red River College, MB Applications are rising by an average of 25% and graduate placement rates are well over 90%. British Columbia Institute of Technology, BC 4

5 FACT 32% of Canada s employers claim their most pressing issue today is a shortage of skilled workers and more than 70% say this shortage is adversely affecting their ability to compete in the global economy. FACT 84% of Canadian CIOs plan to hire in 2015 with 50% of CIOs saying it is challenging to find skilled IT professionals. The Case for Business Technology Management (BTM) Despite the confirmed and continuing skills shortage, specifically for the much sought after business and technology capability talent profile, there continues to be a chronic under enrolment in these types of programs. The war however is on for Business Technology Management (BTM) talent in Canada. Canadian employers can t find enough talent with the combined business and technology knowledge as well as functional skills in project management, communications, collaboration and leadership. Some 200,000 are already employed in BTM jobs twice as many as 10 years ago and demand continues to grow. Employers will need to fill more than 50,000 BTMrelated jobs in the next few years. At the heart of the skills shortage challenge is a pervasive mismatch between the capabilities that employers require and the skills and experience (or lack thereof) of many job-seekers. A new capability profile has emerged that includes technical skills, soft skills, and context skills. Also, graduates of post-secondary programs that do not have a practicum component will face an especially lengthy search for employers. The BTM is assisting schools in addressing these issues through the design of their post-secondary programs and the management of the transition from graduation to employment. 5

6 Beyond BTM 1.0: Specialization Programs Many employers also need ICT workers with highly specialized industry knowledge and experience. In response ITAC Talent started the development of BTM specialty programs in BTM specialty programs offer students the opportunity to focus on an area of evolving significance in today s job market. Specialties are offered in three vertical and three functional areas. Specialty programs combine the BTM SPECIALTIES learning outcomes ENTREPRENEURSHIP HEALTHCARE FINANCE of the standard BTM with function 3 VERTICAL: specific skills, knowledge and DIGITAL MARKETING CYBER SECURITY DATA ANALYTICS competencies. 3 FUNCTIONAL: INCREASING DEMAND FOR A NEW MIX OF SKILLS Hybrid market - ICT skills = Competence of customer-centered approach and issues, capability to develop new ICT-based business opportunities Industry-specific skills = Competence of specific industry business processes and of ICT innovation implementation issues 6

7 FACT Demand for high value tech professionals exceeds current and anticipated supply. Estimates vary, but they agree that the number of people employed in business + technology related occupations has grown substantially perhaps as much as doubling from 100,000 to 200,000 over ten years. Why consider offering a BTM program? There will be pervasive and serious shortages of the hybrid business and technology workers. The drivers behind this shortage are changes in how employers understand their skills requirements and a lag in the post-secondary system s response to this change in skills needs. These hybrid jobs are among the fastest growing and best careers in today s job market. The BTM program addresses a central challenge, namely the need to construct post-secondary programs that are aligned with the capabilities profile that now dominates hiring requirements. The unique BTM model puts employers at the core of the degree. Employers define the learning outcomes and competency standards in line with the skills and abilities they need in their businesses now so graduating students have a greater chance of meeting these needs and gaining employment. BTM is a proven solution with dozens of institutions across Canada offering the program. Enrollments in BTM programs are increasing year-over-year. BTM Learning Outcomes and Competency Standards are freely available and are updated every three years. 7

8 Your school will have the unique opportunity to contribute to Canada s global competitiveness by helping to expand the country s pool of qualified technology talent. Benefits of offering a BTM Educational institutions have the unique opportunity to contribute to Canada s global competitiveness by helping to expand the pool of qualified technology professionals. What are the benefits of offering a BTM? Branding - Business Technology Management is already a compelling, accurate name for programs of this nature. Some early adopters of this program attribute significant growth in applications and improved gender diversity to this change alone. Modernization - The learning outcomes specified by the BTM bring currency to the curriculum, and provide a strong set of integrative components. Employer Commitment - Employers face a strong need for the skill sets of BTM graduates. ITAC s corporate members are committed to work with postsecondary institutions in providing coops, internships, first interviews, advisory support, case competitions, and the like. Marketing - A major campaign to promote next generation ICT-related careers, the BTM in particular. 8

9 Expanding the BTM Through generous support from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), ITAC Talent has launched a three-year expansion initiative for BTM to greatly increase enrolments and graduates and to help meet industry s current and anticipated demand for these professionals. FACT 14% of Canadians under the age of 24 are unemployed. FACT 90% of Canadian firms surveyed say they have some form of IT skills gap. The strategy for expansion includes: Expand the number of BTM programs to over 50 across Canada by 2017 Build a prioritized list of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for BTM as a framework for professional education and career development Professionalize the BTM sector through program accreditation, professional certification and a BTM Association for professionals Create national brand awareness of BTM and its importance to bridging the skills gap through a broad range of national marketing activities and special events. 9

10 8 STEPS TO SET UP YOUR BTM PROGRAM 1 Determine if any existing offering, in your assessment, matches the BTM Learning Outcomes and other requirements. 2 Calibrate courses against Learning Outcomes. 3 Debate and settle on design. 4 Obtain approval and support. 5 Designate local implementation leader. 6 Create BTM Advisory Board. 7 Marketing and Communications. 8 Launch. Interested in offering a BTM program? 1. Assess if your current program offering matches the BTM learning outcomes and other requirements. The educational institution needs to conduct a self-assessment against the BTM learning outcomes and determine the relative fit. If you feel comfortable with it, having reviewed our learning outcomes, then that is what counts. 2. Contact ITAC Talent when you are planning your program. ITAC Talent staff can assist with any specific questions you have related to the learning outcomes and competency standards. 3. To proceed with, and grant, the core BTM academic credentials, the educational institution is free to proceed at any time. 4. Promote your program via the ITAC Talent and CareerMash websites 5. Participate in ITAC Talent s BTM related events. How to take action: For more details on how you or your institution can participate, please contact us directly at info@itactalent.ca. Connect with us: