Aspirations of University Students in Digital Media Education

The widespread and universal adoption of the Internet and the extensive use of Web based media highlights that there is a shortage of appropriately qualified graduates with the necessary skills required by rapidly changing technological environments. There is a dichotomy between theoretical, analytical and often abstract concepts developed through a course of undergraduate study and the skills based training which is often required by the computing industry. Businesses require employees with the creative and technical skills and knowledge of the new and developing digital technologies. This paper represents a snapshot taken in 2006 of student aspirations and views on undertaking vocational certification programs in multimedia and Internet subjects in addition to their normal studies. It makes recommendations for the possible integration within Higher Education academic curricula.