Computer Applications numbers down

The number of students coming in to first year computer applications this year will be significantly lower than the 288 who started last year.

The number of applications for places this year fell by over 50%. Reasons for the fall-off include worries that the downturn in the IT sector may result in fewer jobs for graduates in the future. Professor Joe Morris, head of the school of computer applications feels strongly that this reason is misguided. "Ireland is still short of computer graduates and around 50% of our graduates work in business and industry as computer experts rather than going in to the IT sector per se."

However, with the smaller number of applicants, it is inevitable that there will be fewer students in the higher points bracket. There is a correlation between the CAO entry points of students and first year performance. Consequently the university has decided not to make first round offers to students below 350 points and this year's first year class may end up with around 150 students.

"Computer applications degree programmes throughout all of the universities have high non-completion rates. We feel that dropping the points below 350 would exacerbate this situation" Joe added. "Hopefully students will realise that there is a very strong demand for computer graduates and the numbers applying next year will revert to previous trends. If this is the case we will increase the numbers in the first year class.

It's up to us to inform students and school leavers that there are high quality, highly paid jobs for computer applications graduates and that DCU graduates have extremely high employment rates. We have been out to schools and will continue to talk to students and their advisors in the hope that this year's drop is not repeated next year."