A new report has found that 10 percent fewer students enrolled in computer
science and engineering programs in the 2003-2004 academic year compared with
the previous school year, USA Today reports.
The Computing Research Association, a group for professors of computer science,
computer engineering, and related fields, conducted the study. The researchers
found that new enrollment in these programs has declined for four consecutive
years at North American universities, the newspaper reports.
"Students are responding to the alarming rate that the job market changed,"
says Ohio State University professor Stuart Zweben. "They're also concerned
about offshoring of jobs."
While the job market for computer majors remains tight, some companies are
concerned that if enrollment continues to fall, they will be unable to find
qualified workers in the future.
IBM is planning to unveil an effort to give schools millions of dollars in
software and offer the services of 1,000 of its employees, the newspaper reports.
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