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According to a forecast by the IT industry, Sweden will need an additional 70 000 programmers by 2022. Yet, there are many recently arrived people in Sweden who have a university degree and some experience in programming, but find it difficult to get jobs in the IT sector. Consequently, the MatchIT project is now underway. Lund University and the Blekinge Institute of Technology are the programme coordinators for the project, which is funded by the Swedish ESF Council.
Over the next three years, a total of 100 recently arrived academics with a technical background will receive a tailored programme within the MatchIT project, which is a collaboration between Region Skåne, Region Blekinge, the Swedish Public Employment Service, Lund University, Ideon Science Park and the Blekinge Institute of Technology. The first round, with 28 participants, started in Lund on 22 August. The 22-week course is followed by a ten-week placement via Ideon.
“The main aim is to ensure that the participants attain the level of expertise that is being sought by companies in the Swedish IT sector. In addition, we hope to be able to develop a matching and education method that can be applied nationwide in order to effectively utilise people with prior knowledge of programming”, says Alma Orucevic-Alagic, programme director of MatchIT at Lund University.
During the programme, which lasts approximately five months, participants are to complete five programming courses. These have almost the same format as courses offered by Lund University in the Computer Science programme at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH). In parallel, the participants receive lessons in the Swedish language via the Centre for Languages and Literature, and in culture and communication at the workplace via the Department of Strategic Communication.
“As a large higher education institution, Lund University has an important social responsibility. We need to understand the needs and problems that exist and help to find a solution. I hope that we achieve several positive effects through the programme, that people who are currently unemployed will find work in their area of expertise and create value for society”, says Alma Orucevic-Alagic.
During the planning of the programme, consideration was given to the potential participants’ educational background and level of knowledge as well as the IT industry’s needs regarding specific technical expertise. The candidates were selected from among people put forward by the Public Employment Service after conducting relevant tests in programming, mathematics and logic, as well as personal interviews.
Text: Emma Holm
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