Thursday, 18 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Business

Covid's tech boom: IBM offering free courses to get diversity into tech industry

8 Oct, 2020 08:02 PM3 minutes to read
Free and flexible courses encourage diversity in the tech sector by removing barriers of time and cost, says Mike Smith, of IBM. Photo / Supplied

Free and flexible courses encourage diversity in the tech sector by removing barriers of time and cost, says Mike Smith, of IBM. Photo / Supplied

Kirsty Wynn
By
Kirsty Wynn

Reporter

VIEW PROFILE

A large number of New Zealand job seekers want to switch careers to technology but are concerned they lack the skills to get into the expanding industry.

A new study by tech giant IBM shows two in five New Zealanders would consider a career change to technology. Most want to work in the industry because of the ongoing demand for skills.

IBM also found employers would hire someone with non-traditional certification in technology and business.

It found skills, rather than traditional qualifications, were valued.

The research comes as IBM launches two new online platforms: SkillsBuild Reignite for job seekers and business owners, and Open P-Tech for students.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The platforms include free courses in fast-growing IT fields of cybersecurity, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud system administration.

IBM's online research found the main barrier to switching to a tech career was lack of skills - 56 per cent of those surveyed ticked that box.

Those people were also put off moving to technology because of perceived high study costs (57 per cent) and lack of time because of family commitments (34 per cent).

One in five (19 per cent) said they were more likely to consider a career change to technology after seeing the number of businesses and education facilities move online during the Covid-19 pandemic.

IBM New Zealand managing director Mike Smith said Covid had hit fast-forward on New Zealand's digital journey and job seekers needed fresh skills to take advantage of opportunities in the booming tech sector.

The digital world had seen unprecedented growth because of Covid and businesses that were not online scrambled to set up websites, apps, and a social media presence to survive.

Established websites needed fast improvements to keep up with increased traffic and to attract customers with higher expectations and increased choice.

Smith said there was a desperate need to invest in training, upskilling, and programmes designed to improve digital uptake.

Attracting more people from a wide range of backgrounds was vital, he said.

Related articles

Business

Covid-19: Businesses warned to upskill digitally or get left behind

04 Sep 04:24 AM
Education

Free course helps future-proof careers in digital transformation

07 Sep 01:24 AM
Business

Top of the class: The New Zealand university rich list

09 Oct 04:00 PM
Business

Valley of debt: Daunting hurdles facing election winner

09 Oct 04:38 AM

"This is to ensure this industry reaches its full economic potential, and so that the tools and solutions created for people reflect the needs of a wide range of people from all parts of society," he said.

Smith said offering the courses online and free removed barriers of time and cost for those wanting a career in tech.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"SkillsBuild Reignite offers a practical way to retrain and build up a base in some of the latest business and digital skills," Smith said.

"The learning is at your own pace and at no cost, to help get more Kiwis a step closer to a new career and address the skills gaps our industry faces here in New Zealand."

SkillsBuild Reignite learners can tap into more than 370 learning activities including learning pathways for topics such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI, cloud administration, and web development.

Completing the courses leads to "micro-credentials" known as digital badges being awarded, which demonstrate progress and attainment to potential employers.

Smith wanted aspiring tech workers to earn "micro-credentials" as a way to expand their career options while attracting people from a wider range of backgrounds to a growing, economically important industry hungry for more skills.

To get more diversity into the industry, Smith led IBM to establish a multi-year partnership in 2019 with Aorere College, Manurewa High School, and MIT in 2019.

Year 11 students on the Pathways to Technology programme (P-Tech) complete a five year structured programme at high school and in tertiary education.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Some of the P-Tech class content is now available online for free as Open P-Tech.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Business

Stress on the flight deck: The pilots who suffered most during pandemic

18 Aug 05:45 AM
Premium
Business

Turbulence ahead: Auckland Airport cites 'year of two halves', trims loss

18 Aug 05:43 AM
Premium
Business

Rocket Lab reveals more about Venus jaunt, cops downgrade

18 Aug 05:40 AM
Premium
Business

Market close: Auckland Airport's outlook drags down shares

18 Aug 05:38 AM
Business

Another property investor pleads guilty to fraud charges

18 Aug 05:37 AM

Most Popular

Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge
New Zealand

Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge

18 Aug 06:18 AM
Labour MP Gaurav Sharma speaks out; accuses PM and her office of a 'cover-up'
New Zealand|Politics

Labour MP Gaurav Sharma speaks out; accuses PM and her office of a 'cover-up'

18 Aug 06:27 AM
Premium
Stress on the flight deck: The pilots who suffered most during pandemic
Business

Stress on the flight deck: The pilots who suffered most during pandemic

18 Aug 05:45 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP