Wednesday, 14 July 2004

Funding to identify skill gaps of engineering and computer science occupational groups

The Hon Michael Cullen announced today funding for an Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) facilitated consortium to identify the knowledge and skill gaps of engineering and computer science occupational groups in New Zealand.

The results of the research will be used to design and structure the content of postgraduate qualifications suited to an entrepreneurial environment. This research funding has been awarded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

The IPENZ-facilitated consortium - made up of relevant industry associations, representatives from major ICT enterprises, and eight Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) - has been successful in gaining a Government investment of $135,000 for one year, from the Tertiary Education Commission’s Growth and Innovation Pilot initiative.

This initiative will closely connect the teaching and research of tertiary education organisations, with the knowledge and skill-needs of these occupational groups in the ICT sector.

“This project is an excellent fit with the Institutions’ core business, as the ICT sector needs professional development of engineers,” said IPENZ Chief Executive, Dr Andrew Cleland.

“IPENZ’s longer term goal is to explore the potential of these postgraduate qualifications being extended to other engineering practice fields,” he said.

Background and contact information…2

2/ The consortium consists of: IPENZ; relevant industry associations (ITANZ, NZ Software Association, NZ Computer Society); representatives from major ICT enterprises (Telecom, EDS New Zealand, Endeavour Capital Ltd, The HiGrowth Project); and the TEOs of ETITO and the New Zealand Council of Engineering Deans (NZCED). The NZCED consists of one representative from each of the TEOs, which offer four-year accredited professional engineering degrees, i.e. the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, the University of Canterbury, Massey University, Manukau Institute of Technology, University of Waikato and UNITEC. The Chairman of NZCED from Massey University is working closely with IPENZ on the coordination and direction of the project.

ENDS

© Scoop Media