Canadian pioneers and education

IT Business has an article by Shane Schick on Canadian computing pioneers have issues with IT education (10/19/05). The article reports on IBM’s Centers for Advanced Studies: CASCON – CASCON 2005 conference where they brought together Canadian pioneers (those who got their Ph.D. before 1973 and spent time doing computing at Canadian universities.)

A short list of the pioneers that were featured is here.

Some quotes:

CanadaĆ­s education system needs a major overhaul if the industry expects to produce top-notch IT talent, according to a panel of computing veterans who were hailed as pioneers by IBM Canada Ltd. on Wendesday.

… several honourees said they were concerned about the lack of enrolment in software engineering courses, the challenges in attracting women to the field and the failure of many professionals to continue their education throughout their career.