Revisiting The Mismatch Between Formal Education In Computer Science And The Software & Information Services Sector: The Case Of Argentina

MARIANO ZUKERFELD

Prometheus: Critical Studies in Innovation

Taylor and Francis

Año: 2014

0810-9028

The Argentinian Software and Information Services (SIS) sector has been growing steadily over the last decade. However, academics, policy makers and managers agree in stating that the lack of computer science (CS) degree-holders has been (and is) jeopardizing this path of growth. This paper depicts the situation of formal education in computer science and related areas in Argentina providing the necessary basis from which to call into question the assumption that the primary driving force of a powerful SIS sector is CS graduates. After presenting figures of enrollment, graduates and researchers, we find that while it is true that there is a mismatch between the trends of formal education in CS and that of Argentinian SIS , it is not clear at all that the sector is limited because of that. Firstly, international comparisons with the US and the UK show that the proportion of graduates is not necessarily the main driver of a highly innovative SIS. Secondly, qualitative sources underline the relevance of informal learning in the acquisition of the software skills actually used by workers. Additionally, the particular evolution of SIS wages could be limiting the inflow of graduates into the sector