Wed, 21 July 2004
Canterbury ICT talent pipeline announced
Major new funding to close skill gaps in the Canterbury information and communication technologies (ICT) industries was
announced today by Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton and Information Technology Minister Paul Swain.
The $1.765 million ICT in Canterbury project is a partnership between local businesses and tertiary education
organisations, facilitated by the Electro-Technology Industry Training Organisation (ETITO). It will fund industry-based
research to identify current and future skill demands and then develop a talent pipeline to meet these needs.
The project involves the Canterbury Electronics Group, Electronics South, Canterbury Software Incorporated, the
Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand, Canterbury Innovation Incubator, Canterbury Development
Corporation, the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology and
Christchurch College of Education.
Jim Anderton and Paul Swain met with the cluster of organisations running the programme at Christchurch firm Tait
Electronics' headquarters this morning. Jim Anderton said the groundbreaking project would deliver major benefits to the
ICT sector and the Canterbury economy.
"The ICT sector is growing faster in Canterbury than anywhere else in the country, but skill shortages are a major
barrier to the sector's potential growth. This project will help ensure we met the challenges of building tomorrow's ICT
workforce by aligning courses, qualifications and training with the industry's skill needs.
"It's part of efforts across several government agencies to increase economic growth by enhancing the profile and
attractiveness of Canterbury as a high technology centre and to provide wider employment opportunities for experienced
workers," Jim Anderton said.
Information Technology Minister Paul Swain said the project is funded from the government Growth and Innovation Fund
which was set up after industry taskforces said new investment and attention was needed to develop qualifications
relevant to the needs of businesses in targeted sectors including ICT.
"The ICT in Canterbury project is a very good example of what can be achieved when tertiary education organisations and
industry collaborate to identify skills needs and work to meet them.
"This project demonstrates that the government is prepared to put its money where its mouth is. This is exactly the kind
of innovative project envisaged by the five-year Tertiary Education Strategy, 2002-2007. If we are to sustain solid
levels of economic growth we need to solve skill shortages and boost the country's productivity. Without a highly
skilled workforce those goals will not be achieved," Paul Swain said.
ICT in Canterbury This ETITO-facilitated consortium is comprised of: the Electro-Technology Industry Training
Organisation (ETITO), the Canterbury Electronics Group, Electronics South, Canterbury Software Incorporated, the
Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand, Canterbury Innovation Incubator, Canterbury Development
Corporation, the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, the,
Christchurch College of Education. The consortium will conduct industry-based research to identify current and future
skill demands. This research will be used by the partners and the Tertiary Education Commission to develop a talent
pipeline that will ensure an adequate supply of suitably qualified graduates.
The project's strength is in its genuine industry leadership and widespread collaboration with tertiary education
organisations. It aims to develop a comprehensive "end-to-end" solution for the ICT sector. The project potentially
offers a collaborative model that other sectors and regions could follow.
ENDS