The new initiative will help to transform the attitudes of young people to IT-related education and careers, and support universities in developing and promoting courses that reflect the needs of IT professional careers.

Supported by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE), the 'Revitalise IT' initiative brings together employers, universities and schools through two complementary themes:

• 'AmbITion' focuses on changing attitudes and stimulating demand among young people for technology-related degrees and careers. It will include a special emphasis on widening participation in higher education and improving the gender balance in IT.
• The 'Catalyst' programme focuses on degree curricula, promoting the capabilities graduates develop from different types of IT-related degree courses and encouraging curriculum development in areas of industry growth.

John Selby, HEFCE Director for Widening Participation, said:

"The Higher Education Funding Council for England welcomes the opportunity to support this important initiative. Our objectives include helping universities and colleges to prepare for long term sustainability and ensuring that the UK retains world class learning, teaching and research in subjects of strategic importance, such as IT. This new initiative will contribute to both these objectives; deepening engagement between employers and Higher Education and between higher education institutions and schools, driving increased uptake of degree courses valued by both employers and learners, and widening participation and inclusion in Higher Education."

Partners already committed to 'Revitalise IT' include Vodafone, Microsoft, LogicaCMG, the BBC and Apple, and the University of Kent, University of Greenwich, University of Reading, Oxford Brookes University, University College London and City University London.

For details, go to www.e-skills.com/revitaliseit.