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Perspectives in IT Careers Forum

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This one day Perspectives on IT Careers forum aims to link stakeholders to ensure the continued availability of a highly skilled workforce to sustain a vibrant and healthy Information Technology industry in New Zealand.

Intended Audience

This Perspectives forum has been designed to link the many parties concerned with providing skilled professionals to work in the IT industry:

  • IT employers, supervisors and managers,
  • IT recruitment agencies
  • Tertiary sector computing educators as developers of graduate capabilities
    • preparing graduates for employment in the industry, by maintaining curriculum currency, developing the desired capabilities, forging linkages between study and work, keeping abreast of trends in employment and changes in the profiles of graduates required
  • Secondary school managers and educators as providers of students
    • who are properly prepared for tertiary level study in computing and IT
    • with an enthusiasm for and understanding of the options available in computing study and careers
  • Government agencies with a brief related to the IT industry, education, labour force or industry development
  • the academic research community as identifiers and evaluators of innovations and trends
    • with an interest in computer personnel research
    • with an interest in computing education research
  • The computer and general press

The forum will provide a primary track offering a range of forum and panel presentations and activities specifically related to IT careers and career preparation, while a second track will offer attendees the chance to attend conference sessions addressing research and practice based papers from NACCQ sector researchers, related to IT industry topics. Attendees are welcome to participate in sessions across both tracks. This programme has been designed to cater for the several audiences participating in the forum.

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Content and Approach

The forum will be run with a series of interactive forums, panels, presentation sessions and workshops led by industry experts or representatives of key linking groups. The overall aim is to encourage debate and share ideas among participants from the participating sectors, while offering a stimulating and educative programme for all involved. John Hine, Professor of Computer Science from Victoria University Wellington, will present as keynote speaker to the combined attendees. The companion conference track will consist of 2 forums, poster presentations for viewing at the morning tea break, and a series of more formal long paper research presentations.

Topics covered in the forum will include:

  • The nature of IT careers and skills required by IT professionals;
  • Trends and developments in the IT industry;
  • Trends and developments in the sectors supporting workforce development;
  • New and best practice models for linking diverse stakeholders;
  • Tips and techniques for educators;
  • Strategies for raising the profile and attractiveness of IT careers.

Research papers in the companion conference track will address such topics as:

  • "Does the programming language matter?: a multi-institutional perspective"
  • "A value proposition model for capstone projects"
  • "Challenges for project managers in face to face vs. virtual project settings"
  • "Impact of VOIP in a call centre"
  • "agile methods a comparative analysis"
  • "Otago Net - ICT ambassadors programme"
  • "Learning to learn: hunting hidden curricula in a first year course"
  • "Software testing practices in New Zealand"
  • "Impact of RFID technology on Supply Chain Management Systems".

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Convenors and Presenters

The forum will be convened by the National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications (NACCQ) in partnership with Women in Technology, Accelerating Auckland, NZ Computer Society, MIS magazine and several IT Vendors and Service Providers.

Sessions will be presented by a combination of leading IT professionals, representatives of key linking groups, researchers and educators. The programme is presently being finalized and details of presenters will be advised closer to the date.

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Registration

Registration for the forum will be via the conference website's registration page, or via Vivienne Wetere, the NACCQ Executive Secretary (viviennew@naccq.ac.nz).

Registrations will be accepted from now until the day of the forum. Options to register on the day will be available at the conference venue. Registrations from sponsored secondary sector participants will be accepted until sponsorship funds are exhausted.

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Venue and Dates

The forum will be held at the Brentwood Hotel, 16 Kemp Street , Kilbirnie, Wellington , on Saturday 8th July from 9:00 - 5:00 pm. 

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Costs

The cost for industry and other external participants will be $170 including GST for the day. This cost will include lunches and morning and afternoon teas.

We are hoping to sponsor several secondary sector attendees from throughout the country, for whom travel and registration fees up to a value of $250 per delegate will be covered ($50 for local attendees). Registrations from secondary sector participants will be accepted until sponsorship funds are exhausted. However, for unsponsored secondary sector attendees the $170 registration fee will be waived.

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Programme

An outline of the planned programme is currently available on this web site.
» Conference Programme.

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A joint CITRUS and NACCQ activity
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