WelTec opens state of the art Silicon IT Lab

MEDIA RELEASE
6 July 2010

A real connection to industry - WelTec opens state of the art Silicon IT Lab

On Thursday 15 July, Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec) will officially open their newest computing facilities. The Silicon IT Lab at WelTec includes the latest in networking and telecommunications equipment which will simulate a real networking environment for WelTec IT students.

The Silicon IT Lab marks a significant investment for WelTec with an upgrade to the latest networking equipment and a refit of teaching facilities amounting to approximately $300,000. Locally-owned provider of IT hardware and software solutions, Silicon Systems, has also contributed to the new teaching facilities. The company provided two suites of computers to support the next generation of networking specialists.

Reported to be the most up to date communications equipment in the region, WelTec’s custom-built teaching facilities include a fully air conditioned, alarmed and anti static environment to protect the equipment and to ensure student safety.

The new facilities are set to be well-used by WelTec’s Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Engineering Technology students. Current and expected demand for training in networking means the teaching facilities will be in use 8am – 9pm, 4 days per week.

According to Ian Hunter, WelTec’s Head of School of IT, a career in networking has excellent career prospectus both in New Zealand and internationally. “The demand for networking training is a promising sign” says Ian Hunter.

“New Zealand’s rapid adoption of internet and the planned upgrade of the communications infrastructure to allow higher speed internet access will result in an increasing need for qualified networking specialists.”

WelTec is also an accredited Cisco academy which provides students with an internationally recognised Cisco qualification in networking. “With the latest facilities we can now teach networking at an advanced level, providing students with a qualification that will have them going places both here and abroad,” says Mr Hunter.

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