Contracts & Collaborations


RGU helping to address IT skills shortage with funded MSC places


Robert Gordon University (RGU) is helping to tackle a widespread skills shortage in the IT industry with the introduction of fully funded places on its suite of MSc computing courses. In 2016, ScotlandIS (the organisation representing the IT


sector in Scotland) estimated that the country would need at least 11,000 extra Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workers each year for the next five years – while there are only 2,000 ICT graduates per year from Scottish universities. In addition to funded places on the specialist courses MSc


Cyber Security and MSc Computer Science, there are also free places available on a range of IT courses, which are suitable for graduates of non-computing disciplines. These courses include the MSc IT, MSc IT for the Oil and Gas Industry, MSc IT with Cyber Security, MSc IT with Network Management and MSc IT with Business Intelligence. RGU has 25 fully-funded places, which start in September,


for qualifying Scottish or EU students. Places on the courses will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis to suitable candidates. In addition, students may also access a SAAS living-cost loan of up to £4,500. John McCall, Head of the School of Computing Science and


Digital Media, commented: “It is widely acknowledged that there is a huge shortage of people who are highly trained in IT and who


have the skills and knowledge to address a lot of the challenges that business, government and commerce are facing nowadays in relation to big data, cloud computing and web systems. “The skills shortage is detrimental to the growth of digital economies, and recent research confirms that many firms are struggling to recruit workers they need. “These courses aim to address this by producing graduates


with the necessary advanced skills required to solve challenges faced by industry and commerce both today and in the future.”


Live Patient Communications is Streamlining Healthcare Admin and Reducing Costs


Investing in live chat software can help save healthcare organisations money, reduce administrative burdens, and improve patient satisfaction, according to experts at Click4Assistance. The market leader has been working closely with a variety of healthcare players to help streamline the way they communicate with patients. Gary Martin, CEO of Click4Assistance, said, “It’s well-


known that the NHS is facing pressure, with budget cuts and increasing demand for services, while struggling to maintain stringent patient standards. From GP surgeries to hospitals, the introduction of live chat can really help improve patient care, reduce costs and cut routine admin tasks. “Live chat is now a common sight on many websites and consumers often find them a more convenient option when they need assistance. GP surgeries are the perfect example of how the instant communication channel can support a variety of functions. Receptions are typically inundated with phone calls early in the morning, with patients often being left on hold or unable to get through. In contrast, live chat means a single receptionist can handle multiple enquiries effectively without harming the patient experience. Live chat can also act as a simple way to cancel unwanted appointments, follow-up tests, and use pre-defined answers to the most common


questions, further reducing the time spent on each enquiry.” As well as providing critical support for admin staff within healthcare, the inclusion of live chat also plays a role in patient expectations. With more organisations deploying the communication channel, it’s becoming an expected type of interaction, allowing individuals to connect in a way that matches their lifestyle. Investing in the technology needed to build live chat into a healthcare system means that patient satisfaction is given a boost to begin with as they have an extra way to make contact. From acting as a booking portal where patients can raise queries with staff to delivering wellbeing support services to a targeted group online, the customisable communication tools of Click4Assistance make it a great addition to a variety of organisations with a range of different goals. One of the NHS organisations that’s benefitted from the services of Click4Assistance is the NHS Vale of York. The clinical commissioning group’s Contact Centre Manager, Danny Young commented, “I’ve been really impressed with the products and its simplicity to use. The support has been fantastic when I have needed assistance or queries answering, I have benefitted from people who take ownership and follow-up personally. I look forward to a longstanding business partnership.”


www.isopps.com 07


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19