ICT graduate school fantastic news, says Chamber

Business Central

Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce

Media Statement

3 June 2014

ICT graduate school fantastic news, says Chamber

The government’s announcement of a graduate school for information and communications technology in Wellington is fantastic news, says Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Raewyn Bleakley.

“This is a further shot in the arm for the city’s strong ICT sector.

“The smart city just got even smarter.

“This school is an opportunity to address significant high-level skills shortages in our rapidly growing ICT industry by being able to feed directly into it.

“Wellington has the highest concentration of web-based and digital technology companies per capita in New Zealand, and we have 22% of all jobs in the computer system design sector, so we are perfectly placed to take full advantage of the skills the school will produce.

“It’s a real tailor-made opportunity for Wellington, with funding for education, research and collaborative initiatives to attract top students and academics and help them connect with our high-value high-tech firms.

“Recent figures for our hi-tech sector show it is growing three times faster than any other region, and that the number of ICT export businesses is growing so fast that Wellingtonians are more than three times as likely to work in ICT as people in other cities.

“This school will support and accelerate that growth.

“I’m confident we have forward-thinking education providers and industry partners here to play a big part in the tender process to develop and operate the school.”

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