In fact, IT is no longer the future, but our present. We order through our smartphone on the way to work tickets for the long-awaited trip to the sea, while simultaneously buying coffee without having cash in our pockets. Why if you can pay by card? Make an appointment with a doctor at a local hospital? No problem. You will spend a maximum of 3 minutes to go to the website of the medical system and make an appointment with the right doctor at a time convenient for you. And you won’t even have to fight with anyone in line. Online shopping, online services of public services, the opportunity to communicate with people who are on the other side of the Earth or learn from the best specialists in their field on EdX or Prometheus – these are all vivid examples of how the possibilities of information technologies make our everyday life easier. And this is certainly not the limit.
All Western scientists and economists speak with one voice that the main trend for the coming years for the entire world is total automation. The work that used to be done by humans can be done by machines without problems and often much faster. If scientists are happy about this and say that this is the progress of humanity, then economists agree that over time many professions will become unnecessary. Yes, job losses are inevitable, but optimists believe that such changes in many areas of activity are actually a new stage of opportunity.
Any new technologies must be developed, created, and implemented. We are talking about professionals of various specialties in the field of IT who will deal with this. After any device or technology is put into operation, there is a need in the labor market for specialists who will monitor the operation of this device (technology) and maintain its efficiency. Such specialists must also have a strong base of training in the field of IT.
In addition, information technology knowledge began to be actively used in other spheres of activity. Medicine, printing, architecture, agriculture and many other fields are at the highest level of development nowadays. This trend requires training not only in specialized activities, but also knowledge in the IT field.
The most popular professions in IT
Before choosing which country to get an IT education in, you should decide on your specialty, because information technology is something more than just writing code.
- Developer, programmer – a specialist who writes code and develops software products. These specialists are in demand not only directly in IT companies, but also in companies of other fields of activity (banking, agriculture, etc.)
- A web developer is a specialist responsible for the development of websites and applications.
- A webmaster is a specialist who is responsible for maintaining the uninterrupted operation of websites and applications.
- A project manager is a specialist who studies client needs, sets business goals for the project, evaluates existing resources, advises clients, and acts as an intermediary between the IT team and the client.
- A system administrator is a specialist who is responsible for maintaining the efficient operation of computer equipment, networks and software.
- A tester is a specialist who is responsible for researching software, identifying errors and defects during its use.
- A support service specialist is a person responsible for eliminating problems in the IT infrastructure.
- An analyst is a specialist who is responsible for researching the client’s problems, which he formulates in the form of requirements.
- Developers take these requirements into account in their work, creating a product.
- A network technology specialist is a specialist responsible for setting up the optimal operation of network components and maintaining the efficient operation of the network system.
- A CRM system specialist is a person responsible for setting up and maintaining the effective operation of CRM systems.
IT education in Europe
If you are interested in the best institutions of higher education for programmers in Europe, you should pay attention to IT universities in Germany, Ireland and Great Britain.
Knowing the German language at a high level, you can study at the Technical University of Munich. This is one of the best technical universities in Europe, studying in which, knowing the German language, will cost you very cheap. The fact is that studying in German-language study programs at German public universities is really affordable, because students only need to pay up to 300-400 euros in student fees per year.
Ireland is called the IT capital of Europe. Dozens of well-known companies open their representative offices in Ireland. It is very beneficial for students of this country, because thanks to this, they can get an internship at an international company with a world name. Among the most popular institutions of higher education in Ireland among foreign students are Dorset College, Dublin City University, IT Sligo. Studying here will cost you an average of 5,000 to 7,000 euros per semester of study in the bachelor’s program.
Great Britain is also known for its universities with age-old traditions and a high level of training of information technology specialists. Among the most popular of them are University of Sussex, Lancaster University, Kingston University London. Training in the UK to become a programmer or any other IT specialist will cost you from $25,000 per year.
IT education in the USA
American universities and colleges are considered the best in training IT specialists. It is here that the globally recognized technical university No. 1 – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is located. Its graduates are winners of the most famous awards, including the Nobel Prize. The cost of studying in it is from 51 thousand dollars per year of study.
Also, popular and prestigious universities with a good base for training IT specialists in the USA include:
- Cornell University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- New York University
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- These universities are annually included in the lists of the best and most promising universities in the world. Studying in them will cost from 44 thousand dollars for a year of study.
IT education in Canada
Canada is known for its colleges with curricula that place maximum emphasis on practice while studying. We will talk about the 2 most popular colleges.
Conestoga College is a public college in the city of Kitchener, where students from 80 countries of the world go every year. The college is known for its co-op programs, which emphasize hands-on training for students in real companies. Conestoga College has a separate division – the School of Applied Informatics and Information Technology. Conestoga College prepares students for two-year and three-year diploma programs in the following specializations:
- Software development
- Programming
- System analysis and design
- IT infrastructure
- Computer systems and networks
- Development of mobile applications
- Cyber security
- Big data technologies
Seneca College is one of Canada’s progressive public colleges. The main campus is located in Toronto, Seneca College has 10 campuses in total. Seneca College works with many businesses. Thanks to this, students have an excellent opportunity to gain practical knowledge and undergo internships at the best companies in the region. Seneca College prepares students for diploma and bachelor’s programs in the following specializations:
- Technologies of computer engineering
- Computer networks and technical support
- Programming
- Programming and analysis
- Technologies of computer systems
- Software development
In Canada, studying for a diploma program will cost from $6,400 per semester, and for a bachelor’s program – from $8,000 per semester.