CIO magazine reports that: "a growing number of managers and executives are not asking for degrees in IT job postings."
The international journal CIO reports that the study “The Emerging Degree Reset” from The Burning Glass Institute shows that more and more companies have moved away from only looking for college-educated candidates for IT positions.
In fact, they quantify this trend, reporting that 46% of middle-skill positions and 31% of high-skill positions did not require a degree between 2017 and 2019. And while the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this process, as seen in this trend started before the crisis and is likely to continue after it.
In addition, the researchers estimated that this change in hiring practices could open an additional 1,4 million jobs to workers without college degrees over the next five years.
Despite the statistics and testimonials, the debate surrounding whether a university education in IT is needed is not settled. Some say they don't need degrees. Others say degrees are still preferred or required.
IBM is among the companies whose directors have been removed from degree requirements. Big Blue is also one of the first, biggest and most prominent proponents of the movement, coining the term "new collar jobs" for the growing number of positions that require specific skills, but not a college degree.
However, not everyone is convinced that reducing degree requirements is the best way to go. Jane Zhu, vice president of Veritas Technologies, says she sees value in points, value that isn't always replicated through other channels.
“While we don't necessarily require degrees for all IT roles here at Veritas, I believe they help candidates demonstrate a level of formal education in the field and provide a foundation in fundamental concepts and theories of IT-related fields.
Education that may not be easily acquired through self-taught or on-the-job training.
Through university education, candidates have typically acquired basic technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, the ability to work with others, ownership and responsibility.'
The article notes a developing trend of "more openness to skills-based hiring for many technical roles, but a desire for a bachelor's degree for some positions, which have to do with leadership positions."
I have to mention the case of my son. He had passed the programmers department at Aristotle Thessaloniki. The first hour he went he listens to the professor analyze the part you call a mouse... E. That was it, he never went back. From the age of 14 he was writing code and wanted to make computer games, he said that we entered this department by taking computer science exams and that we knew what a mouse was. Today he is 33 and has read all programming languages, network analysis, page construction and
their languages. He had joined a 20-member team for games and left because he was asked in addition to his own work to educate young people who came from universities and did not know their blindness, he asked them for a raise for this and never got it. Now he's in a game development team, taking on part-time projects for overseas houses. Of course without a degree.
Well, I will refer to something that I know personally, but without details.
It's been 24 years since I met a man who had studied as a director abroad, but out of personal joy and passion he became No. 1 in the networks of a huge internet company at the time.
At one point, when I saw with my own eyes something of what he could do, I confess that I was dazzled. And during our acquaintance I saw him make, create and compose impressive works.
Repeat. This man had (and does not have) ANY degree in any computer specialty. But he was and remains an authority on protocols.
Many years have passed since then. And in these I have met people with computer science degrees who - personally - wonder how many cans of oil they gave their teachers, to get their degrees...