Cloud recruitment firm, Resource on Demand, says universities must introduce industry-recognised modules, in a bid to increase the employability of graduates. 

Theresa Durrant, Operations Director at Resource on Demand (ROD), said: “Higher Education Institutions need to further their commercial partnerships with organisations and platforms in order to give under-graduates the edge in a crowded job market. Through offering modules in contemporary technology, such as cloud computing, graduates will enter
the job market better equipped for the task in hand.” From September 2012, universities in England will be allowed to raise tuition fees up to £9,000 per year and ROD is arguing that this presents a great opportunity for Universities to invest in emerging technology markets.

Theresa Durrant added: “We are currently seeing graduates enter the job market with no certification at all, which is the bare minimum they would need to work with a platform such as salesforce.com. There is then additional training they need to undertake before they can begin to work, which we hope can be avoided in the future.” One of the few universities to embrace Cloud Computing is Aberdeen University who offer a MSc/PgDip in ‘Cloud Computing’, but ROD is encouraging places like Aberdeen to expand their offering.

Theresa Durrant continued: “Universities can use recruitment companies, like ROD, to gauge the direction that technology is moving in, and adjust their courses accordingly – at the moment recruiters tend to be a dirty word – but we believe there is a strong partnership that if forged could help graduates, Universities and the job market.” Lee Durrant, ROD MD, said: “Our suggestion is that Universities take advantage of the free tools that salesforce.com offer, such as developer accounts, wide-ranging online training, and free social collaboration tools. The culmination of this is the student undergoing the certification process as an integral part of their course and leaving University with usable and employable skills. Providing a vocational and work experience led qualification that meets both the industry and direct company employment needs.”