Egelund maintains student admission limits despite IT demand in Denmark

The demand for IT professionals is growing, and the IT University wants to train more students. However, this has not prompted Education and Research Minister Christina Egelund to change the regulations limiting student admissions at the university. Egelund acknowledges concerns about a shortage of IT graduates, noting that similar issues exist in teacher training programs.

“It’s definitely a problem if we lack enough skilled individuals to ensure our IT security is adequate,” Egelund stated. Despite industry associations IDA and Dansk Erhverv highlighting challenges posed by the admissions cap, Egelund remains firm on not altering the rules. The cap, implemented in 2021, aimed to ensure a balanced distribution of IT graduates across Denmark, including rural areas.

The IT University has expressed its capacity to admit an additional 100 students, yet this year, the number of accepted applicants has decreased by one percent compared to the previous year, totaling 6,881 admissions. The limit is seen as an obstacle for urban admissions, but the Minister believes maintaining a balance between urban and rural education is crucial.

Moreover, Egelund encourages prospective students who were denied admission to explore other available programs on the Ministry’s website. Despite the admission limitations, there are still vacancies in IT courses outside major cities. Danish companies have expressed concern that young people prefer to study in larger urban areas, leading to a deficit of IT specialists.

Egelund stressed that the admission figures tell a more nuanced story, indicating an increase in enrolments for IT courses with strong employment prospects, while those with fewer job opportunities have seen a decline in enrolments.