Gates to academics: teamwork vital to address tech worker shortage
Gates to academics: teamwork vital to address tech worker shortage
At Microsoft's latest annual summit with academic researchers from around the world, company chairman Bill Gates again voiced his concern over the shortage of computing science graduates around the globe.
Sharing a platform with Princeton University's Dean of Engineering and Applied Science Maria Klawe, the two discussed issues of mutual concern to academic researchers and the technology industry before an audience of more than 350 faculty researchers from 175 academic institutions in 20 countries.
Both agreed that amid challenges that range from dwindling government funding for research to declining numbers of students entering computer science programs, ongoing collaboration between academia and industry is now more critical than ever.
"These are challenges that affect not only the computer science field but our entire society, and addressing them will require new levels of teamwork among universities, industry and government,” said Klawe, who added that programs like Microsoft's Faculty Summit help to draw more attention to these issues, creating a sense of urgency around them and help build consensus about the next steps toward finding solutions.
Gates added that one of the biggest problems in the IT industry is that it is not promoting itself to potential recruits well enough as a sector that can offer excitement and fulfilment.
“We must capture the imaginations of the next generation of computing innovators by exposing them to inspirational research that bridges multiple disciplines,” Gates said.
He revealed that the skills shortage weighed heavily on his mind and was a source of ongoing concern at Microsoft.
"Well, I'm certainly very worried about it. Microsoft is trying to hire every great college graduate who has basic computer science skills and we think is highly talented. When I sit down and review projects here inside the company, the topic that always comes up is how is the hiring going, we've got open headcount, these are super well-paying jobs, you can get your own office. The competition for somebody who's got the right background is just phenomenal."
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