The IT Professionals completed a IT Skills Gap Forum questionnaire prior to the event.  The Center asked them questions for the purpose of assisting the State Board for Community & Techical Colleges with its upcoming AWB report on all ten of the Center of Excellence’s Skills Gap Forums.  The Center also asked additional questions to aid in the Center disseminating to the entire CTC system a comprehensive look at the state of the IT industry as well as where they see the future of IT heading in the next three to five years.  Additionally, the Center created a series of questions to ask of the IT professionals at the forum.

The following is now available to the CTC system and will be disseminated to the Workforce Educational Council (WEC) after the early May 2013 WEC meeting:  

The State of the IT Industry PowerPoint presentation which focuses on technology trends and their impact on nine in-demand IT career pathways, as well as technical knowledge and skills of prospective employees identified with associated ratings of importance and difficulty in finding.

New Technology Adoption Graph for Software Developers: Supplement to the PowerPoint Presentation

Washington State Demand by IT Career Pathway (Source: EMSI): Supplement to PowerPoint

WA State Regional Breakdown By IT Occupation (Source: EMSI): Supplement to the PowerPoint

IT Skills Gap Questionnaire Results, March 22, 2013

IT Skills Gap Focus Group Questions & Answers, March 22, 2013

Fast Track to the Future IBM Tech Trend Report 2012 (Suggested Reading)

As you are aware Washington State is not producing enough Information Technology (IT) workers.  With the community and technical college now able to offer four-year applied baccalaureates to our state’s students, we have a unique  moment to create a cohesive process for coordinating our efforts, sharing best practices, and unifying in order to address the shortage of work-ready IT four-year graduates.  Ms. Sigl succinctly summarizes below this call to action for all of our state’s IT educators.

Our economy has been transformed, with tech now the state’s major economic driver. The Washington Research Council reports that technology-related employment increased 119 percent over the past two decades, while the underlying state economy grew only 14 percent. The IT sector created two-thirds of Washington’s job growth and more than half of employee-compensation growth over that time. It now represents 27 percent of all jobs in the state. Highly skilled employees are important for all employers, but they’re the lifeblood of high-tech.

Susan Sigl is the president and CEO of the Washington Technology Industry Association.

To address this increasing demand for a skilled workforce, the Center of Excellence for Information and Computing Technology is holding a one-day IT Futures Summit: Pathways to IT Applied Baccalaureate Degrees for Washington State Students, including working with IT Programs of Study & Common Courses on Friday, June 7, 2013 at Microsoft’s Conference Center.   We are inviting each Washington State Community and Technical College to bring a team of up to four individuals including the information technology division dean or workforce dean,  program chair and two IT faculty (and, if you have a IT baccalaureate manager/advisor, please include them) to the summit. All travel expenditures (hotel, per diem outside of the breakfast and lunch provided at the summit, and mileage) will be covered by Center funding.

Participants will:

• Find out about  recent state initiatives in developing common courses and core IT competencies
• Learn about current and proposed IT applied baccalaureate degrees in Washington State community and technical colleges (CTC).
• Hear industry professional’s perspectives on CTC pathways to applied baccalaureate degrees.
• Think about course and levels of preparedness (including courses that prepare students for a rigorous IT Program of Study, for example tech prep courses) that secondary students should be encouraged to take and how K-12 might find courses that articulate or are accepted for program credit at a CTC.

Each Workforce Education Council Administrator has been invited to send a team to represent their college’s IT program, including those who either currently or will be offering IT applied baccalaureate degrees.  The agenda for the day can be viewed here.

Find out what Andrew Craswell, who has advanced to developing web applications for Bellevue College as a intern and part-time student employee, to a permanent, part-time software engineer does in his job. We are catching up with Andrew one year later. He shares with us the university courses he likes, misconceptions about math (not all programmers like math), how connections, collaboration, and networking are very important if you want a job in information technology. Andrew also provides valuable tips on internships, and two of the most important soft skills (skills employers expect from employees – like showing up to work on time, how to compose a succinct email, how to work with colleagues, etc.) are for him: communication and time management. He also tells us about his future goals, once he graduates from the University of Washington. So, take a few minutes and catch up with Andrew Craswell, a current tech worker and university student.

Find out what Johanna Aqui, who recently joined Bellevue College as a developer lead, and has 14 years in the IT field does in her job. She shares how programming is much more than what you might think it is; how it involves creativity, problem-solving, and how she enjoys success when she produces something that not only works, but improves a system. Essentially, Johanna finds enormous satisfaction in delivering a workable solution to a client.

Click on the images to watch the videos.  (Or, go directly to the Center’s complete video library.)

The Center of Excellence for Information and Computing Technology hosted an IT Industry Skills Forum on Friday, March 22, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Bellevue College, in the East and West Board Rooms.  The results from the work session will disseminated to the CTC system late May/early June 2013.

The Center wants to thank the 30+ IT industry professionals who attended and provided the Center with excellent insights and a myriad of great information that will in turn, be of use to the CTC system.

The purpose of this work session is to obtain “real time” information from IT industry professionals and leaders about expected job growth trends over the next three to five years and to discuss workforce skills gaps that make filling job vacancies difficult for employers within the industry.

We would like to invite you to this two-hour industry skills panel work session.  You will be offered a stipend of $75, reimbursed for mileage, and provided with afternoon snacks and beverages.  For those IT professionals coming from a distance, you will be reimbursed for one night at a hotel and per diem as well. Note: The East and West Board Rooms are in the B-Building on the 2^nd floor next to the President’s Office, B201 (A&B).

You can register for the work session here.  The two-hour work session includes a state of the IT industry from the Center, examples of Center partnerships with industry, an hour-long work session for IT professionals to share skill gaps, and new career pathway opportunities looking out to the next three to five years, and a quick overview of the AWB.

The Center will be sharing the session outcomes and implications with the CTC system after the work session.

Updates & News: Winter 2013

Greetings from the Center of Excellence for Information and Computing Technology (coeforict.org).  We hope everyone is excited for the start of a new year as we welcome in 2013!  The Center has mapped out many familiar and new projects, events, initiatives, resources, and services for you this year.

What’s New? 

The WA State Community/Technical College & University ICT Program Directory Goes Online!

The Washington State Directory of Community and Technical College (CTC) Information and Technology Programs (2013 Edition) is now available as a searchable database.  The new IT and CS degree and certificate directory is housed in the YourFuturein.IT site.  The Center of Excellence funded that development piece of that new website, but it can also be found on the Center’s website. So, no longer do you have to thumb through a document to find a degree or certificate from both 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.  By typing in, for example, “web design” you can pull up all the degrees and certificates offered with that two-word search.  This also enables colleges and universities to notify the Center (who will be reviewing links every quarter to make sure they are up-to-date) out of cycle if the link is either broken or has changed.  Please contact the Center with any feedback on this new searchable IT or CS degree and certificate database.

Review of IT/CS CTC Programs (Degrees & Certificates) by Industry Professionals Spring Quarter 2013                                                                                                                                                                     The Center works with its IT/CS industry professionals (from multiple career pathways – web programming, programming, development, engineers, networking, systems, database, hardware/software technicians, and gaming, etc.) to review up to 12 Washington state CTC IT/CS program degrees and certificates  each year that are currently in place (one degree or certificate per college). The Center is now accepting applications for its Spring Quarter 2013 review session at no charge.  The deadline for the fall review session is Friday, May 3, 2013. 

Since 2010, the Center has performed 25 ICT degree/certificate reviews at no charge for 27 Washington State community and technical colleges.  After each review by industry professionals, a custom report summarizing the recommendations made by the industry review team, as well as provide a high-level workforce trend scan, employment trends if applicable, and possibilities for emerging trends that might impact curricular changes or developments, is issued to each college that submitted an IT degree or certificate.  Interested in having your program reviewed?  Complete our online application!

Mark Your Calendars For…

Register Now for Careers in IT: The Real Story, happening on Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Careers in IT: The Real Story will be taking place on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, in the Carlson Theater at Bellevue College.  Registration is now open.

If you missed last year’s event, you can watch the industry professional panelists, and hear what they have to say about majoring in computer science; what it’s like to work in the gaming industry; what does a data analyst do; and, more…

About Careers in IT: The Real Story Are your students curious about Information Technology (IT) or do they think IT is only for geeks? Do they think offshore outsourcing has eliminated all high paying technology jobs in the United States? Do your students believe they don’t have the computer skills, technical competence or aptitude to do well in the information technology sector? Tell them to think again!  Note:  Clock hours are available for our K-12 educators.

 Look for more news and updates coming your way in February 2013!

Contact the Center at maureen.majury@bellevuecollege.edu with news you want to share or questions.

Center News & Updates: Fall 2012

What’s New? 

Register for November Certified Ethical Hacking Now!

This class is not being advertised to the public – it is being offered to InfoSec and Digital Forensics professionals and college- level educators November 5-9, 2012 at Edmonds Community College, Snohomish Hall, Room 123.

Tuition includes the official course ware, certification test, study guide, and practice question banks to prepare for the CEH exam.  Access to the study guide and practice question banks will be given when a student enrolls in the course.

The target audience is InfoSec and law enforcement professionals from the Puget Sound area in Washington State as well as college level educators nationwide.   If you want a seat, send an email to

Steve Hailey at steve.hailey@cybersecurityacademy.com.

Your instructors will be Steve Hailey and Mike Andrew – both CEH’s and authorized instructors.  Look at the overview to find out what CEH v7 covers.

Review of IT/CS CTC Programs (Degrees & Certificates) by Industry Professionals

The Center works with its IT/CS industry professionals (from multiple career pathways – web programming, programming, development, engineers, networking, systems, database, hardware/software technicians, and gaming, etc.) to review up to 12 Washington state CTC IT/CS program degrees and certificates  each year that are currently in place (one degree or certificate per college). The Center is now accepting applications for its fall 2012 review session at no charge.  The deadline for the fall review session is Friday, November 16, 2012. 

Since 2010, the Center has performed 25 ICT degree/certificate reviews at no charge for 27 Washington State community and technical colleges.  After each review by industry professionals, a custom report summarizing the recommendations made by the industry review team, as well as provide a high-level workforce trend scan, employment trends if applicable, and possibilities for emerging trends that might impact curricular changes or developments, is issued to each college that submitted an IT degree or certificate.

Interested in having your program reviewed?  Complete our online application!

An IT Common Course Initiative Focusing on Articulating Specific Introductory Courses for an Application Development and Software Engineering Program of Study

The Center was funded through the Washington State Workforce and Technical Training Board to host a meeting with two- and four-year higher education institutions.  At that day-long session the two- and four-year faculty created three common courses that a student could take at a community or technical college that would be accepted at the four-year university or college so they wouldn’t have to retake the courses.

There is more work ahead for this common course initiative.  The work session on July 20, 2012 was very productive. Another take-away was that the two- and four-year higher education institutions felt that it was extremely important that a high school graduate who had gone through an IT programs of study focusing on software development, programming, engineering must have completed precalculus by the time they entered either a two-year CTC or a four-year university or college.

The three courses where the group came to consensus on learning outcomes were: Programming I/II and Data Structures.  The Center will be sending out further information to the CTC system, K-12, and four-year higher education institutes to assess next steps.  If you are interested in joining our network of educators who are working on this project, please contact the Center of Excellence.

Your Future in IT (YourFutureIn.IT)

The Center offers you a sneak peek at a new website Your Future in IT.  It is currently in alpha, close to beta; however, by September 15, 2012 a number of planned features and overall tool functionality will be up-and-running.

The site has tools, resources, academic planning guides, an IT interest quiz, etc. for IT academic and career pathways focusing on Application Development and Software Engineering, Systems & Network Administration, and, Web Design, Development & Digital Communication.

So, about the site:

• It serves as an informational resource as well as providing a number of resources and tools for students
• It promotes understanding, awareness centered around the coursework students need to focus on to both create a seamless articulation as well as tips and advice that are designed to increase student success as they start their journey towards an information technology academic and career pathway
• Students can set up an account and customize a coursework and extra-curricular activity planning guide that they can use to prepare for their four-year educational experience(whether it’s starting at a community and technical college and then continuing their B.A. or B.S. at a four-year university or college, or entering a four-year college or university directly
• Short informational and awareness articles and resources that address how to overcome math-anxiety; why taking certain courses between grades 7-12 will enhance their two- or four year post-secondary journey; how to plan for the transition to the college or university experience; and, much, much more…
• Awareness and targeted informational and awareness articles for young women and under-represented populations that support their access to tips and ideas that are designed to increase their interest and chances of succeeding in an IT educational and career pathway.
• A searchable Washington State college and university information technology and computer science degree and certificate directory
• And, more…

Mark Your Calendars For…

Careers in IT: The Real Story

Careers in IT: The Real Story will be taking place on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, in the Carlson Theater at Bellevue College.  Mark your calendar and registration will open late Fall 2012.

If you missed last year’s event, you can watch the industry professional panelists, and hear what they have to say about majoring in computer science; what it’s like to work in the gaming industry; what does a data analyst do; and, more…

About Careers in IT: The Real Story

Are your students curious about Information Technology (IT) or do they think IT is only for geeks? Do they think offshore outsourcing has eliminated all high paying technology jobs in the United States? Do your students believe they don’t have the computer skills, technical competence or aptitude to do well in the information technology sector? Tell them to think again!  Note:  Clock hours are available for our K-12 educators.

Watch behind the scenes of Careers in IT: The Real Story.  Here from the students, the presenters, the director and get a look at what it takes each year to make this event happen. Click on the image to the left and take a few minutes to consider the fun, excitement, and very useful and timely advice from IT professionals.  And, find out why an educational and career pathway in IT is where you want to be heading.

For questions, comments, inquiries, contact Maureen Majury at maureen.majury@bellevuecollege.edu.

You can download the PDF of the newsletter here.

This class is not being advertised to the public – it is being offered to InfoSec and Digital Forensics professionals and college- level educators November 5-9, 2012 at Edmonds Community College, Snohomish Hall, Room 123.

Your instructors will be Steve Hailey and Mike Andrew – both CEH’s and authorized instructors.  Look at the overview to find out what CEH v7 covers.

So, about the site:

• It serves as an informational resource as well as providing a number of resources and tools for students
• It promotes understanding, awareness centered around the coursework students need to focus on to both create a seamless articulation as well as tips and advice that are designed to increase student success as they start their journey towards an information technology academic and career pathway
• Students can set up an account and customize a coursework and extra-curricular activity planning guide that they can use to prepare for their four-year educational experience(whether it’s starting at a community and technical college and then continuing their B.A. or B.S. at a four-year university or college, or entering a four-year college or university directly
• Short informational and awareness articles and resources that address how to overcome math-anxiety; why taking certain courses between grades 7-12 will enhance their two- or four year post-secondary journey; how to plan for the transition to the college or university experience; and, much, much more…
• Awareness and targeted informational and awareness articles for young women and under-represented populations that support their access to tips and ideas that are designed to increase their interest and chances of succeeding in an IT educational and career pathway.
• A searchable Washington State college and university information technology and computer science degree and certificate directory
• Resources and informational pieces for parents, educators, and academic/career counselors
• A What is YOUR Future in IT interest quiz (available by September 15, 2012)
• And, six young adults, who are all IT kids, who each have a different story to share about their middle and high school experience and their academic pathway triumphs and challenges as they discover which pathway is right for them. Is it mobile application development?  Is it web design?  Is it game development?

In Fall 2012 you’ll meet Emma, who is just one of the six IT Kids.

The Center would like to thank funding agency who helped with the stage-two funding, (the Center and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges – Tiffany Merkel – provided the stage-one funding), The Washington Workforce and Technical Training Board, and Terri Colbert). Additionally, thanks for the work updating the IT pathway planning guides done by Ventia Willis-Holbrook from the Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI).  Special thanks go to  Juan Ulloa and Erik Steen for launching the website in five months, when typically for a website like this, it take at least a year.

The Center has a laundry list of additional features, resources, and tools planned for the website, so we will be fine-tuning the site through June of 2013.

The content covered will include and extend our official design curriculum available on Faculty Connection and will also cover additional content intended for those wanting to “go pro” and publish apps in market.

The content is arranged so that if you are schedule-constrained and can only attend one of the days, that each day stands alone and will be useful and complete no matter which day you are able to attend. The first day tends towards more introductory material, and the second day towards content that will get more technically rigorous as the day progresses. Register now for this free two-day workshop.

The two-day program (Note: subject to change) is:

Day One

8:00am – 8:30am Gather/Continental Breakfast

• Windows UI Design Principals
• Windows Store, App Certification, and App Ecosystem
• Introduction to Visual Studio 2012

12:00pm – 12:30pm Lunch (provided)

• Intro to HTML 5/CSS Win 8 apps
• HTML 5 App Hands-on Lab
• Intro to Windows Phone

5pm – Day One Wrap-Up

Day Two

8:00am – 8:30am Gather/Continental Breakfast

• Intro to Expression Blend
• Windows Phone Hands-on Lab
• Intro to XML and C#
• XML/C# App Hands-on Lab

12:00pm – 12:30pm Lunch (provided)

• XML/C# Hands-on Lab (cont’d)
• Intro to C++ app development
• Creating a start-up with Apps and BizSpark
• Helping your students win up to $100K with the Imagine Cup

5:00pm – Day Two Wrap-up

Location:
Microsoft Redmond Campus
Studio F
3900 148th Ave NE
Redmond, WA
98052, United States

If you’re considering a career in health information technology, there’s a tool to help you identify educational and training programs open to Washington residents.

The Washington Health IT Educational Resource Inventory lists postsecondary education and training programs at a variety of levels from post-12^th grade through post-doctoral, with information on location, cost, program duration, prerequisites and the types of jobs for which the program prepares the student.  Most importantly it includes contact information for getting more detail about each program.  The inventory is developed and maintained by the Washington Health Information Industry-Education Council (WHIIEC), a group of educational institutions and associations representing health IT employers.