The impact of the skills gap on the recruitment of MIS graduates

Abstract

Enrollment in MIS degree programs has been dropping significantly since 2001. Some of the reasons for this decline include the perceived lack of jobs for MIS graduates, confusion over the variety of computing degree programs, disinterest in MIS careers, and MIS programs which fail to prepare students adequately for careers in MIS. This paper looks at each of these potential causes for the enrollment decline and offers suggestions to reverse this trend. Given the lack of material support for the first three potential causes of the decline in enrollment, the bulk of this research is devoted to investigating the deficiencies of the MIS program from the employer's perspective. We will conduct a survey which will identify which skills MIS graduates are lacking from the employer's point of view and what impact this skills gap has on the recruitment practices of the employers. Our belief is that once employers begin actively recruiting for MIS graduates, the misperceptions of the job prospects for MIS graduates by potential students will likewise diminish and enrollment in the programs which respond to industries' needs will subsequently rebound.