SUMMARY

The rapid introduction of new and changing technologies, globalization of the IT workforce marketplace, assimilation of Information Technology into the fabric of business and industry have all combined to create an increasingly challenging workplace for the 21st Century IT professional.  Business’ expectations for these workers now include an awareness of the business context for their work, critical thinking and project management skills, the ability to rapidly adapt to change, as well as a requisite level of technical and communication skills.  These forces and expectations shaping the workplace for IT professionals are compelling educational institutions to examine not only what they teach but also how they teach and prepare their students.

Problem-based learning initiatives and cap-stone projects have introduced business problems and projects into the IT curriculum; in general these were based either on faculty internship experiences or on case studies of previous projects.  The CSS Program builds upon these initiatives by introducing the dimensions of currency and authentic ambiguity of working with a regional business partners on IT problems and issues from their current business environment.  This style of learning as well as the applicability of this learning result in better prepared IT workers and IT curricula which are on target with the needs of the region’s employers.

The responsibility for ensuring there is an adequate supply of well-prepared IT workers for the region is held jointly by both education and business.  The CSS Program provides the developmental and feedback processes vital for ensuring that teaching and learning keep pace with the rate change in this profession.  Thus curriculum reform is no longer considered an occasional event but rather a fundamental part of the educational process