He added that getting staff that have the skills to teach students how to use the latest technology is also a challenge and is worsened by the supressed salaries in the public sector.

"The more we can cooperate with industry the better. I have been involved in sponsorship of kit in the past and the problem is also the follow up. We have the kit delivered, and it's nice and shiny, but who is going to train us up? It's lost then. We need input from industry and sponsors to help maintain the courses," he said.

"I'm sure that it would also help the employers as much as it helps us [through the skills that would be added to the marketplace]."