A scholarship opportunity of a life time
- overseas travel and educational experience !!

We have had a good number of new scholarships donated for students through the ACS Foundation over the last month, including a number that include a period of overseas travel and experience as a part of the scholarship. We are very excited about the educational opportunities that these scholarship offer the successful candidates, as well as the opportunity to experience another culture.

This exciting development has been an initiative which was announced on the 8th November, whereby the ACS Foundation supported by the ACS, IBM, Tripoint will be awarding scholarships at a number of universities around Australia to encourage students to enrol in ICT courses. We have announced $250,000 worth of these scholarships so far and are looking to announce even more as we get more support for the program.

This initiative shows the confidence that the industry has in its future and the exciting jobs opportunities that are available.

At the event that was held on the 8th, where a number of senior representatives of the industry discussed those exciting opportunities, which demonstrated the breadth of opportunities that a career in ICT can have, and how because of the pervasive nature of ICT, those careers stretch across all industry sectors, including finance, film, fashion, mining, etc.

We would encourage you to help us by providing feedback on this newsletter and how we might be able to make it more useful and interesting to you. We would also encourage you to send a copy of the newsletters to any friends who may be interested in receiving a copy of future newsletters so they can subscribe for their own copy.Click here for our subscription page.

We wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season from all of us at the ACS Foundation.



John Ridge AM

Executive Director

IT News

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Current Scholarships

Below is a selection of our current scholarships

Description:  The ACS Foundation has 6 HCL scholarships to allocate in January 2008. A further 19 scholarships will be allocated throughout the rest of 2008. These scholarships are for students who are completing their IT undergraduate studies on or before December 2007.
The donor company wishes to provide a WIL experience that will include 3 to 4 months in India comprising of approximately 2 months intensive college-based training and exposure to various IT methodologies, and 2 months of relevant practical experience, and then support a further 12 months WIL experience on their return to Australia
During the 3 to 4 months overseas placement, students will receive travel and accommodation reimbursement of relevant expenses. The company will pay additionally $1,000 per scholarship holder per month whilst they are on overseas training. Upon returning to complete the scholarship the student will receive a tax free scholarship of $34,000p.a. The total value of this scholarship is estimated to be $50,000. This amount does not take into account the intrinsic value of such a valuable learning and life experience.

Value:    $50,000

State:    National

Closing date: 10th Dec-07

Description:  Skills and experience gained will include being part of various AMS(Application Management Systems)Delivery support roles and project support duties. Would suit IT degree / BIT or Software Engineering students.

Value:    $28,000

State:    VIC

Closing date: 14th Dec-07

Description:  These students will participate in client or internal engagements where information systems and business skills are fostered and combined to help organisations to effectively apply technology for competitive advantage. Assignment may include: Defining user requirements; Programming; Coding and testing applications; Analysing, designing and implementing business process improvements; Project administration; Researching work on a proposal; Developing an array of technology-based solutions to improve business performance - from interactive, virtual technologies to object-oriented, client/server and Internet applications; Developing training and human performance management programs.
Qualifications: Candidates must be undergraduates entering their penultimate or final year of study with a minimum of one semester of programming experience in one or more of the following languages (C, C++, Java, Visual Basic, HTML, etc).

Required skills:  1. Demonstrated leadership, quantitative and analytical skills.
2. Intellect, evidence by an otstanding academic background.
3. An ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment.
4. Capacity to work individually or as a team member in a professional client environment.
5. High Motivation and self-confidence. Preferred Study: Computer Science/Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems. Other majors (Business, Mathematics, Economics) with computer concentration.

Value:    $28,000

State:    NSW

Closing date:  14th Dec-07

Description:  This role assists in the administration of key the SMB ISV Program and ISV Advantage program products. It co-ordinates the content appearing on the Small and Medium Business (SMB) Intranet site by uploading appropriate content (as directed by the marketing team ) onto the SMB Intranet site. This position works with the Sales Enablement lead person to enable the quarterly Territory Sales Plan and Enablement Program.
Looking for someone with marketing fundamentals and computer skills.

Desired skills: 1. Able to use MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint
2. Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
3. Good language skills with good written and verbal communication skills required.
4. Time management and organisation skills and an ability to manage multiple tasks desirable.
5. HTML and web coding skills would be an advantage.

Value:    $28,000

State:    WA

Closing date: 10th Dec-07

Description:  Dialog currently has a number of positions available in Brisbane for IT students. Dialog provides a wide range of information technology services including outsourcing and technology management, systems integration and application development, implementation, training and support. Ideally, you will have some experience in developing business-related systems that has given you direct contact with end users and an understanding of the business requirements of systems.

Value:    $28,000

Required skills:   1. JAVA
2. JavaScript
3. JSEE
4. .NET
5. Crystal Reports
6. Database development skills (Oracle RDBMS, PL/SQL, IBM DB2, SQL Server, MS Access, etc)
As well as good presentation, communication and interpersonal skills and be comfortable working with a wide range of client personnel at many organisational levels.

State:    QLD

Closing date:  14th Dec-07

Description:  This scholarship holder will be involved supporting multiple IBM business lines such as Global Business Services, Sales & Delivery in the preparation of bids, gathering client research information that assists IBM to provide proposed customer attractive solutions that address the customer's information needs.
Students will gain an understanding of business management principles related to a global IT enterprise.
Preferred areas of Study: Business, Management, IT, Marketing.

Desired skills: 1. Able to use MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint
2. Strong IT understanding and background skills.
3. Excellent communications (both written & verbal).
4. Good presentation and facilitation skills.
5. An ability to create pragmatic solutions to business problems and deliver them to deadlines.

Value:    $28,000

State:    ACT

Closing date: 14th Dec-07

Description:  The scholarship provides WIL experience that includes 4 months training in India comprising 2 months of intensive college-based training and exposure to various IT methodologies, and 2 months relevant practical experience, and then support and a further 12 months WIL experience on return to Australia.

Value:    $45,000 (approx.)

Required skills:  Students must have a Credit average.
Be able to work as a team member and show appropriate attributes relating to social skills, communication and motivation.

State:    Queensland & Victoria & NSW

Closing date: 14th Dec-07

Testimonials

Testimonials from the ACS Foundation's 'Great IT Jobs Debate'

Here are some of the testimonies taken from CEO's of the leading IT companies in Australia had to say at the first ACS Foundation debate called the 'Great IT Jobs Debate', which will become an annual event.

“Today’s debate is the start of a series of important conversations to raise the awareness of this opportunity. We need this message to reach graduates, high school student, parents, careers advisors and mature aged workers in other fields and disciplines, who may be considering a career change, on the career opportunities and skills that are in demand not only within the ICT industry, but other industries such as advertising, film, finance and architecture – as ICT underpins every sector of the economy.”
        John Ridge

“The ubiquity and persuasiveness of ICT is now embedded everywhere. With every second person using technology to improve their lives and lifestyle in some way, the spectrum of opportunity for those with ICT skills is now incredibly broad.”
        Philip Argy, ACS President

“All the boundaries are blurring. We have people join IBM intending to pursue a particular technology strain, that move across to something completely different within six months. We need to break away from the mindset that suggests that IT is about writing code.”
        Charles Noble, ITDelivery

“The backroom image is destructive to the industry ... ICT is an enabler to what you want to do.”
        Xavier Desdoigts, Animal Logic at Fox Studios

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Ross Richardson, ACS Foundation 2007