INDUSTRY WATCH
AS WELL AS IMPROVING
THE EMPLOYABILITY OF
COMPUTER SCIENTISTS TO
PLUG THE DIGITAL SKILLS
GAP, THE INSTITUTE
AIMS TO BRING MORE
PEOPLE FROM UNDER-
REPRESENTED GROUPS
INTO THE TECH SECTOR.
Q
ueen Mary University of
London is part of a £40
million initiative to create
the next generation
of digital specialists,
announced in a speech by the UK’s
Prime Minister in Davos. Known as the
Institute of Coding (IoC), Queen Mary will
spearhead the theme of boosting equality
and diversity in technology-related
education and careers.
The tech sector is growing twice as fast
as the rest of the economy and experts
suggest that more than 500,000 highly
trained computer scientists will be
needed by 2022. However, the digital
skills gap means many need a wider
skills base to appear more attractive
to employers. The institute will deliver
innovative education to learners in
industry, higher education and hard-to-
reach groups.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum
2018 in Davos, Prime Minister Theresa
May outlined how the Institute of Coding
will create new degree level courses to
equip people of all ages with the digital
skills they need.
is set to receive £20 million from
government via the Higher Education
Funding Council for England to tackle
the UK’s digital skills gap. A further £20
million will be matched from industry,
including in-kind contributions such as
training and equipment.
Queen Mary’s Vice-Principal for Student
Experience, Teaching and Learning,
Professor Rebecca Lingwood, said: “We
are excited to play a leading role in
developing the Institute of Coding. The
multi-million pound project will bring
industry and academia together to
produce a step-change in creating the
next generation of digital specialists.
“The institute’s approach closely aligns
with an innovative new teaching model
for undergraduate teaching at Queen
Mary. The QMUL Model gets students
ready for the workplace by broadening
their horizons, for example, by giving them
the opportunity to travel or experience
modules from different academic subjects
and develop new skills such as creating
business ideas, all of which can help them
succeed later on in life.”
Five core themes
Bringing academia and
industry together
The new Institute of Coding is a
consortium of more than 60 universities,
businesses and industry experts and
www.intelligentcio.com
The 25 universities involved, led by the
University of Bath, range from sector
leaders in business and computer science,
to experts in arts and design, to specialists
in widening participation and outreach.
INTELLIGENTCIO
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