Career Paths Training for the First Year Students in Information Systems Science

摘要

A gap between real life and theory usually exists in education. However, this gap can be crossed in all levels of an ICT curriculum. The constructivist learning theory and the concept of professional growth can be the building blocks for a career path course in which students can meet their professional needs since the beginning of studies. At the University of Jyvaskyla we ran the career path of ICT course for new information systems students during the first month of their studies. The course included expert lectures of ICT professionals representing the different aspects of ICT work. Additionally, the students were expected to discuss these issues in their assignment. In this paper we clarify why and how we ran our career path course. In addition, we present how different ICT core skills were developed during the course. The knowledge of the core professional areas in our information systems curriculum developed positively. Especially, professional images concerning a system analyst's and a project manager's profession improved well.