The pōwhiri for the first cohort of AWS ākonga
Unitec is leading the way in providing employment pathways for students in Tamaki Mākaurau, Auckland and Ōtautahi, Christchurch (via its partnership with Ara Institute of Canterbury). The first small cohort of the AWS re/Start programme, a cloud-computing micro-credential offered through Te Pūkenga and delivered by Unitec, completed the 12-week skills-based course earlier this year, with six ākonga finding employment through internships.
Participants learn through real-world scenario-based exercises, hands-on labs and coursework. They learn to build Linux, Python, network and security systems and relational databases, and develop practical career skills such as interview preparation and CV advice.
The success of the AWS programme has seen a larger second cohort of more than 40 learners start the skills development and job training programme in October to prepare them for cloud computing careers.
The global programme was launched in New Zealand in early 2021 to help increase the number of Māori and Pasifika in the IT sector and offer upskilling to people whose employment or work opportunities were affected by COVID-19. The second group will complete the course at the end of January and begin their internships in February 2022.
Findings from a new research report, titled Digital Skills Aotearoa: Digital Skills for our Digital Future, commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) with NZTech, show that New Zealand requires 4,000-5,000 new digital technology professionals each year. The research reveals more needs to be done to address the low levels of diversity in the digital skills pipeline in order to grow and diversify the local talent pool.
Companies and organisations providing internships include Auckland Council, CCL, Clearpoint, Datacom, Leaven, NEXTGEN Group, Planit, Pushpay, Spark, Vector and Way Beyond.
Unitec’s Lead of the Centre for Digital Innovation and Skills, Dila Beisembayeva, says: “This is a great example of an education provider and industry coming together with a unique internship element. The programme is changing people’s lives by offering new opportunities and helping them overcome adversity. It is attracting people from all walks of life and career backgrounds, including those who have had to make a sudden shift in focus.”
The programme has had huge support from business, with internship placements being provided with the end goal of employing these learners and growing the talent inside their businesses.
“On course completion, learners also have the option of further study, such as a New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity, to advance in their workplaces and the industry.
“In a tight labour market, we are pleased to have the programme in place to upskill and train domestically to help address the skills shortage in the tech and IT space and quickly progress learners into the workforce,” said Dila.
The Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment are partners of the programme, and the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy is available to businesses to take on Unitec AWS re/Start learners as interns.