Summer of Tech Internship Programme expanding

Summer of Tech Internship Programme expanding nationwide through NZCS

PRESS RELEASE – NZ Computer Society Inc. (NZCS) and Summer of Tech
29 March 2011
For Immediate Release

The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS), the professional body of the ICT sector, today announced an adoption of the highly successful Wellington Summer of Tech internship programme and a significant expansion and nationwide rollout of the initiative.

“This move will help redefine the future of student-industry engagement for those studying towards a career in the tech sector across New Zealand” NZCS CEO Paul Matthews said today.

Summer of Tech, formerly known as Summer of Code, is a very successful student internship programme for those studying for a technology-related career. Launched in 2006 and now in its sixth year of operation the award-winning programme helps businesses source top talent from local tertiary institutions while giving students valuable real-world industry experience. The programme includes a series of bootcamps and industry-led skills development workshops to help bridge the gap between industry needs and educational development.

NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews and Summer of Tech Executive Committee Chair John Clegg today jointly announced that the Wellington Summer of Tech programme would now operate under the NZCS umbrella and be rolled out across New Zealand.

In announcing the revamped project Matthews said “NZCS has been a strong supporter of the Summer of Tech programme which grew from a real need experienced by startup businesses in Creative HQ, Wellington’s business incubator. The programme has helped Wellington employers source top local talent while easing the move from study to industry for hundreds of tech students. We’re very excited to be playing such a big part in the next chapter of this excellent programme”.

SoT Executive Committee Chair John Clegg today said “The Summer of Tech programme has been hugely successful, however it’s now time to scale and grow the programme and progressively roll it out across New Zealand. The scale, breadth, ICT community engagement, non-profit nature and strong reputation of NZCS makes it the ideal organisation to work with to achieve this”.

“Student internships in the ICT and related sectors are absolutely essential for New Zealand’s innovation and technology future”, Matthews said. “This programme has continued to enjoy significant success because it’s focused at the right place – an industry-led initiative supporting tech students in partnership with academic institutions”.

“NZCS and Summer of Tech will roll the initiative out throughout New Zealand over the next 12-24 months and we’ll be looking to the technology sector and the Government to turn words into actions and continue to support the growth of this hugely important project”, Matthews said.

“This project will continue to be a grass-roots industry-led initiative aimed at solving a very real and existing problem”, Clegg said. “Those that have been a part of this programme over the last six years in Wellington can rest assured that this move will secure the future of Summer of Tech while ensuring business as usual in the Capital”.

Current Summer of Tech Coordinator Ruth McDavitt will remain involved and the Society today began advertising a new role including coordinating the national rollout of the project.

ENDS

© Scoop Media