Presenter: Ben Thomas from Software Sustainability Institute UK
The Software Sustainability Institute (SSI) had heard criticism from industry that research graduates do not join the workforce with the right software engineering skills. We wanted to explore whether research students and staff, including RSEs, benefitted from the skills that people had in industry.
Drawing on qualitative data from 26 interviews with employers, recent graduates, and industry stakeholders, we analysed perceptions of the skills graduates bring as well as skill gaps, and the causes of these gaps. We found that graduates were well-equipped with technical skills, but due to the way universities teach, often lacked the ability to apply skills practically, as well as lacking the professional (soft) skills needed for the workplace. While large employers were able to address skill gaps, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had more constrained resources, meaning they struggled to provide training, making workforce readiness more challenging in this vital part of the sector.
In response to these findings, the SSI training team developed a programme for undergraduate and research students which, through realistic projects, agile teamwork, mentoring, and reflection, helps early-career software engineers bridge the gap between academic study and professional practice. The programme has been piloted 3 times with University of Southampton students, receiving excellent feedback. Our next step is to offer this training to SMEs in the local area.
This research and training programme has placed the SSI in a strong position to shape future higher education policy around employability, and has already supported Southampton’s RSEs with implementing industry working practices.