Needs Analysis in ESP for Computer Science Students at the University of Human Development

The aim of this study is to identify the needs of students and alumni for an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) program at the University of Human Development in Sulaimani-Iraq. To attain this aim, the students and alumni’s needs for an ESP course as well as their needs for the expected language skills to be involved were also determined. Participants proposed some suggestions for having an ESP course in their academic curriculum. As a research design, mixed method research was used. For collecting the quantitative data, closed-ended questions were used while for collecting the qualitative data open-ended questions were used. The participants consisted of 116 third and fourth year students, and 50 alumni. The findings of the study revealed that the students need an ESP course to be added to their academic curriculum. Furthermore, the findings also showed that the students and alumni needed speaking skills for general English in their studies and works. Moreover, it was found that the students and alumni’s current situational needs were the same and both believed that they needed listening skills the most for their academic studies and current jobs for ESP courses. Particularly, the students believed they would need competence in speaking more than competence in any other skill in their future occupations for ESP courses. Finally, the students and alumni made some suggestions regarding the ESP course they required. Some of them suggested adding an ESP course to the curriculum in their academic study. Others even suggested having ESP courses in all four years of academic study. They further suggested having a general English course prior to an ESP course.