Two senior academics at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have pointed at the serious shortfall in accounting and information technology graduates and its potential impacts. “There have been fewer students enrolling in university courses in recent years. Local, national and global businesses both small and large are all competing for a declining pool of qualified graduates,” says CSU's senior lecturer in information technology, Dr John Atkinson. He says that includes Border companies who have trouble attracting and keeping computing professionals. “Even the Australian Computer Society is unable to find enough applicants for over 100 scholarships for Australian computing students to undertake work experience in India.” CSU accounting team leader Dianne McGrath says accounting firms, including international firm KPMG and many government and business organisations, were concerned at the lack of new accounting graduates available to fill positions in Albury and Wodonga. “A recent report by Access Economics also states graduates in these professions are in the top five most sought by Australian businesses. CSU is keen to train local people for positions in local firms as it has been shown that they are more likely to stay in Albury-Wodonga.” To address this shortfall, all courses offered by CSU’s School of Business and Information Technology will be offered for mid-year enrolment until 31 July. Contact Sue Petzke at the School on telephone (02) 6051 9874.