Guests at the Cybersecurity launch event, from left to right: Tim Sewell – CCL, Minister Kris Faafoi, Nyuk Loong Kiw – Spark, Dila Beisembayeva – Unitec, Merran Davis – Unitec, Husain Al-Badry – Datacom, Tim Chu – Datacom, David Venter – CCL and David Glover, Unitec
Our new Diploma in Cybersecurity was officially launched in Te Puna yesterday, with an audience of stakeholders including the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Government Digital Services, Kris Faafoi, representatives from Datacom, Spark and Computer Concepts Limited, and our Unitec people involved in developing and teaching the course.
It was a proud moment for Unitec and all involved as we are the first tertiary institution to have developed a cyber-qualification in the pre-degree space (Level 6).
Minister Faafoi said the launch is something to be truly celebrated as an important step towards investing in the future of New Zealand’s cybersecurity workforce and capabilities.
“With the increasing digitisation of the economy, we need to keep pace and manage risks by growing the New Zealand cybersecurity industry. Discussions on what the future of work will look like often describe the need to ensure we provide training for the jobs of tomorrow’s workforce. However, for the cybersecurity workforce we need the relevant skills and training now.”
The Minister said the cybersecurity profession offers a diverse and interesting career for young Kiwis.
Minister Kris Faafoi
“I want to commend all those who have been involved in the development of this course and in particular David Eaton, of Datacom and Dila Beisembayeva, from Unitec for being the driving force behind getting this programme up and running. This cybersecurity qualification is a great example of the way vocational education in New Zealand is heading. It’s responding to a very real need. It’s based on collaboration between training providers and industry. And it enables students to train on the job as they study.”
Dila Beisembeyeva, Academic Programme Manager, School of Computing and Information Technology, has worked closely with NZQA, ITP New Zealand and industry including Datacom and Spark, to develop the course.
“In an industry stymied by an increasing skills shortage, we’re helping develop our own homegrown talent and ensuring we deliver what industry needs,” said Dila.
“We’re bridging the gap between education and industry, while at the same time providing employment opportunities for students and equipping them with skills for jobs.”
The students of the inaugural Cybersecurity Diploma class are excited to get started.
“I’ve signed up to the course because of its purpose-built nature and the involvement of well-known industry partners” said Alexis, an HR technology consultant.
“I’ve always been a computer enthusiast and having worked in the market research industry, have realised how vulnerable our systems are. I think the course will give me hands-on, practical experience” said Jan, a market research analyst.
Read more from Minister Kris Faafoi in his press release.