Conceptualising the influence of cultural and gender factors on students' perceptions of IT studies and careers

1. ABSTRACT The nature of IT is changing providing no single career path for information systems professionals, hut a range of different occupations, for which the required skiiis range from non-technical skills, to general and specific IT ski&. However, this diversity is neither reflected in IT degree curricuhun nor made clear to the IT industry and potential students. This paper explores the effect of gender and national culture on students’ perceptions of IT careers. It aims at an improved understanding of IT as an area of employment and study, and of the reasons for the declining number of students male and female choosing to study IT. Three categories of students are suggested, according to the reasons why computing and IT skiUs were valued: for escapism for leisure and study; to secure employment and status; and for flexible work arrangements. In addition to these categories we suggest that the students’ perceptions and aspirations of an IT career are influenced and shaped by their attitude towards group work, especialiy the extent to which coiiaboratory study practices are preferred, although these are moderated by

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