Ireland must grow its Tech Talent Pipeline as Employer Demand for Graduates is Outstripping Supply

The Irish tech industry is on the up and employers’ demand for computing graduates is higher than ever according to a leading careers expert from one of Ireland’s largest computing schools. Caroline Kennedy, Careers Officer with the National College of Ireland (NCI) was speaking ahead of the NCI Computing Project Showcase which is being held on Wednesday the 24^th of May.

“Demand for qualified graduates just keeps rising,” says Kennedy. “We have one of the largest computing schools in the country and employers tell us they are really impressed with the creativity and skills of the students. However, I think at this point, Ireland needs even more talent to be coming through the pipeline.”

Indeed, employers will be scouting the talent the NCI’s event where they will get to meet their next generation of app builders and cybersecurity experts and see their work in action

Cybersecurity is a hot topic at the moment and many students developed innovative solutions in this area.  Other technologies such as Internet of Things, gaming and mobile application development will also be on show.

Some of the 120 projects on show include a theft prevention and recovery system for bicycles, a web application to streamline treatment for leukaemia patients, a fitness app that uses gaming technology to make exercise fun, virtual reality games and a system that can monitor the levels of moisture in your house plants.

Representatives from companies such as Ward Solutions, FlowForma, SAP, Sogeti, AOL, Optum, Version 1 and McCann Fitzgerald will all be in attendance.

“It bodes well for our graduates,” said Kennedy. “But all of the stakeholders in the Irish tech landscape need to be planning for the future, and that future includes ensuring that we are producing graduates with the necessary skills that will allow Ireland to realise its full potential.”