ANU teams with industry to solve ICT skills crisis
New scholarships at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science will help to address the ICT skills shortage in the ACT.
The College and the Australian Computer Society Foundation (ACSF) have agreed to provide scholarships of between $12,000 and $15,000 that will combine relevant work experience and study.
“Students get the chance to enhance their skills in a real workplace doing tasks relevant to their academic studies,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb said at the launch on 13 October. “They’ll be ready for the workforce when they graduate, with excellent contacts in the local ICT industry.”
ACSF Chairman John Debricant said a number of industry partners would contribute to the scholarship fund, which could provide up to 50 places by the end of 2007 and 150 by the end of 2009.
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Students showcase software solutions for business
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Michael Lucas-Smith from ACT technology company Wizard and IT student Tony Nguyen discuss software solutions. |
Programming solutions created by software engineering students for ACT businesses and organisations were on display for Canberra’s business community this month.
Each year, third and fourth year students enrolled in the Bachelor of Software Engineering at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) form small teams to create software for external clients.
Subject coordinator Lynette Johns-Boast said briefs for the teams vary each year depending on the needs of clients, which have included government departments, academic divisions, and small to medium businesses.
“Getting the students to work together, under the supervision of a fourth year peer, helps them to develop the communication skills they’ll need in their careers,” Ms Johns-Boast said. “They also learn the importance of working to briefs and deadlines by liaising with their external client.”
“In the workplace, most projects fail because of people, not technology. This program means that our students learn the importance of the ‘soft’ skills like really listening, and articulating their perspectives. It also means that local organisations and businesses get a tailored software solution – something about which they’ve responded very positively.”
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