• National IT Manager
• Branch / Sales Manager -IT...
• Technical Support / Network...
• I.T. SUPPORT ANALYST
• Communications Consultant

ACS Foundation and Society news

ACS staff, Information Age

16/04/2004 12:04:28

RMIT expands scholarship program

RMIT University has cemented its ties with the ACS Foundation by placing three new scholarships through the program this year, and continuing negotiations for additional industry-based scholarships. This brings to 11 the number of scholarships currently operating through the Foundation with more expected to be announced later in the year.

The School of Computer Science and Information Technology has awarded new scholarships in the areas of software engineering, computer science, and computing Internet technology, while the School of Business Information Technology is working with the Foundation to arrange scholarships associated with student work experience.

The Head of the School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Professor Heiko Schroder, said the scholarships help to attract the brightest students to RMIT, while raising awareness of the value of ICT as a profession.

“We have a close relationship with the ACS and share a common interest in making sure that society is strongly supported with good IT skills,” he said.

“We face a problem in that the general population is not convinced about the value of IT and we need to change this perception. It’s interesting to see that labour forecasts by the US Government predicted growth of 60 to100 per cent for most IT-related jobs over the next 10 years – far higher than for any other sector – so we know this will continue to be an exciting area in which to work,” said Prof Schroder.

For first year RMIT student, Laura Tucker, winning an ACS Foundation scholarship has eased the financial challenges associated with moving from her home in Mildura to Melbourne to study computing Internet technology.

“The scholarship makes a fantastic difference and takes the pressure off my parents in terms of paying for my studies,” said Laura, who became interested in pursuing an ICT career after completing a Year 12 assignment to build a Web page.

“I’m really interested in the design side of technology, but this course gives me a good background in computing as well as the Internet, so I’ll have plenty of options when I graduate,” she said.

For computer science student Matthew Byrne, the $5000 annual scholarship will enable him to pay for his studies much sooner, instead of carrying a large debt.

“I’ll probably move straight into postgraduate studies after finishing this degree, but I’m most interested in the more creative side of software development, such as games and multimedia. I became aware of RMIT’s relationship with the ACS and ACS Foundation while researching courses online and was very pleased to learn that my academic performance qualified me to apply for this scholarship,” he said.

ACS Foundation joins GAMAA to advance printing industry

Six print industry managers have received scholarships from the Graphic Arts Merchants Association of Australia (GAMAA) as part of an integrated program to enhance the level of ICT, business management and leadership skills in that industry sector.

The scholarships, awarded through the ACS Foundation, enable the six recipients to undertake a 12-month program of study, workshops, coaching and mentoring to gain a better understanding of ICT and its effects and ramifications on their future business decision making processes.

The students – all middle and senior managers – come from a diverse array of businesses spanning traditional print producers through to digital solutions and book publishers.

GAMAA President, David Rands, said the program is unique for its compulsory, residential workshops, developed by GAMAA in conjunction with the Melbourne Business School, a division of the University of Melbourne (MBS).

“These workshops are designed to expose participants to a wide range of management skills and processes that will challenge their working practices and provide them with the tools to develop strategies for the future. The workshops also enable the exchange of information and the development of research materials specific to the nuances of the industry,” he said.

“Our 2003 students have said the workshop component enhances their formal studies and enables them to think outside the square and develop practical ways of implementing what they have learned.

“Content for the workshops will continue to evolve in 2004 and will provide not only the scholarship students, but the broader industry, with a unique, interactive, educational resource,” he said.

One of the scholarship recipients, Paul Dennett, said skilled employees represent the key competitive advantage for any organisation.

“Without the right skills in your organisation and our graphics industry, poor decisions will be made and competitive advantages will be lost. From my experience, technology is only as good as the people who implement it, and the real business benefits are only gained when skilled employees push the boundaries of the technology until it evolves into more productive systems. “The GAMAA scholarship is providing the opportunity for us, the successful candidates, to improve not only our skills, but also the skills of the industry,” he said.

Schools funding: computer literacy needs Govt attention

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has welcomed the Federal Government’s 25 per cent funding increase for schools, but warned that Australia will continue to lose ground to other nations in the global knowledge economy unless urgent attention is given to the supply of computer and Internet equipment to schools, and a national standard of computer literacy is swiftly introduced for both teachers and students. ACS President, Edward Mandla said: “There remains an enormous digital divide in this country – not only between private and public schools, but increasingly, between the skills of our young people and their international counterparts. There’s also growing evidence that the teaching community requires support and resources in bringing their own technical knowledge up to a reasonable standard. In response to the funding package announced by the Minister for Education, Science and Training Dr Brendan Nelson, Mandla called for: • The immediate provision of a national competency standard for computer literacy in secondary schools. Similar to the national reading, writing and numeracy benchmarks, the standard would specify the minimum acceptable benchmarks for aspects of computer literacy at different year levels. • Ongoing professional development for school teachers to ensure they are confident and competent in using IT effectively. In addition, IT skills should be embedded into pre-service teacher education. Teacher IT competency is particularly important in government schools and schools in low income areas, where students are less likely to have access to a computer outside school. • Governments must ensure that all schools have access to an affordable broadband connection that meets their IT needs, regardless of geographic location. Schools must also be adequately funded so that technical support staff can be appointed to manage the network of software and hardware systems. • Greater attention to the talent shortfall in the industry. The ACS urges the government to act now to prevent a future skills shortage in the IT sector. Strategies must be introduced to promote growth in the local IT industry and to encourage secondary school students to enrol in IT courses at tertiary level. “The issue of computer literacy is at the heart of our standing in the global economy,” Mandla said. “If Australia is to compete on the world stage, greater emphasis must be placed on IT both in secondary schools and at a tertiary level. Any child who leaves school without adequate computer skills may be setting themselves up for a life of poverty. “We acknowledge the preliminary work done in this area, but feel that much more needs to be done to address this issue if Australia is to take its rightful place as a global technology leader. The Government needs to announce a timeline for tangible delivery of IT competency training and the appropriate level of resources to support it. “The development and application of a national standard for computer literacy will help position Australia as a world leader, not just in the use of IT in secondary school education, but in the IT sector in years to come,” said Mandla. The ACS has created a national working party on computer literacy with a report due out in May 2004. It has also formed working parties on a range of other policy areas including offshoring, work life issues, SPAM and open source software. ACS news

Young IT boot camp eases transition to employment The annual ACS ICT Employment Survey, released in February, reminded us that the while unemployment in the sector is falling, the overall rate remains high when compared to the national unemployment figure, particularly for those under age 25.

Making the transition from study to employment can be challenging at the best of times, but is even more so when jobs are scarce.

To help final year university students and recent graduates prepare for the workforce, the ACS Young IT Committee is organising a three-day professional development program. Titled “From Graduation to Employment”, the boot camp will provide delegates with the opportunity to:  test drive the interview process – from preparing a killer CV to interview role playing, including handling difficult questions;  learn how to tap into the “hidden” job market;  network with recent (and not so recent) graduates; and  talk to employers.

The boot camp is being held in Sydney from Sunday, July 11 to Tuesday, July 13, 2004. As attendance will be heavily subsidised by the ACS, numbers are limited to 50 places.

Applications will be based on need, and to apply, send us your contact details, a CV, and 250 words on why you think you would benefit from attending the boot camp by May 30, 2004 to ACS, Level 3, 160 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (Re: Boot camp). Further details on the program and the selection process can be found at www.acs.org.au.

Australian Standard for the corporate governance of ICT

In 2003, a set of corporate governance standards were issued by Standards Australia. These set out principles and guidelines for codes of conduct, fraud and control, social responsibility and whistle-blower protection. Other related standards are currently under development, including one for the Corporate Governance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

The draft of the Corporate Governance of ICT standard will be released for public comment. The standard has been prepared by a Standards Australia working group, members have brought their own professional experience and interviewed 10 prospective users to position and scope the standard. The standard also draws on recent audit reports and local and international standards.

The interviews revealed a need for guidance to boards, steering committees and their advisers. This finding was reinforced by two common threads emerging from recent Australian federal and state government agency audit reports. First, steering committees are often ill-equipped to supervise projects and second, benefits identified in the original business case are not re-evaluated during the life of projects, even when cost estimates and delivery schedules are revised. While similar detailed analysis is not readily available for other organisations, many publicly listed organisations do report, to a limited extent, on the impact of ICT on business activities, in annual reports.

ICT has now become critical to business operations and survival - whether it be the accuracy of the Web site, the reliability of the billing system or the use of e-mail. This standard provides a framework for sound governance. It proposes a model of continuous evaluation, direction and monitoring to ensure that business activities are aligned with business priorities and maximum benefit is achieved from financial and organisational investment. The standard puts the onus on directors actively to engage their organisation in the model. However, it also provides guidance, to those providing advice, on ICT, as to what is expected of them.

Underpinning the model are a set of principles. These establish a basis for sound governance through clearly understood responsibilities, valid acquisition, sound planning, ensuring quality, performance and conformance and consideration of human factors. A glossary and sample questions practically assist in the creation of common ground and broader understanding of the risks associated with ICT. The standard formally refers to the Australian Risk management standard AS/NZS 4360 as a valuable tool. Sound governance of ICT positions an organisation to take advantage of the opportunities for innovation that ICT provides.

A number of Australian Computer Society (ACS) members have contributed to the development of this standard through participation in the working group. The ACS is formally represented on the Technical committee which will vote on its adoption.

The ACS Governance of ICT committee has initiated a series of workshops to seek wider input and promote the standard. Attendees at workshops in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart found the draft valuable in their own professional roles such as board member, adviser to boards, audit committee member and network administrator charged with minimising the impact of viruses on their educational institution. Workshops are planned for Newcastle, Canberra and Brisbane.

Information on how to contribute to the development of the standard, workshops, access to draft standards and further reading material, including links to the audit reports mentioned above, are available at .

- Contributed by Marganhita da Cruz, an independent consultant and chair of the ACS Governance of ICT Committee.

Prof Kerryn Phelps to advise ACS The ACS has appointed former AMA President Professor Kerryn Phelps to mentor the Society and its senior administration to become a more efficient and effective voice for the ICT sector. National President Edward Mandla said the goals of his presidency were similar to those faced by Dr Phelps when she was elected President of the AMA. “The ACS needs to expand its membership to encompass a broader definition of ICT professional,” he said. “This involves educating a wider audience about what the ACS represents and can deliver to its members. In addition to our initiatives within the ICT sector, we’re also working to raise awareness among the general public. “We live in a world where technology influences almost every aspect of modern life – how people live, work and play. The ACS represents Australian technologists, who are in the unique position to advise and educate us about how technology can be harnessed and developed to improve the living standards of every Australian.” He acknowledged that the ICT sector had not been effective communicators in the past, but said that was changing. “We are listening to our members and developing policies that articulate their vital messages and we’re working with Prof Phelps to identify ways to communicate to them. Australian ICT professionals are moving out of the backrooms and into the boardrooms, and as a result, we need to ensure the community understands where technology is taking us and therefore what our future is going to look like. “She has guided us in forming specialised working parties on critical issues such as computer literacy, offshoring, open source software, ethical Internet use, work/life issues, young IT professionals and privacy. We will be taking our policies to the Government to ensure these issues are given the appropriate focus and results in effective legislative developments.”

Correction

In the last issue of Information Age a contributed item about the appointment of Honorary Life Members incorrectly described Judy Hammond’s professional contributions to the ACS.

It should have said:

Judy Hammond (FACS) is a 40-year veteran of the ICT sector who has contributed significantly to the ACS over many years. The current Director of the ACS Community Affairs Board, she oversees national committees in the areas of Economic, Legal and Social Implications, Health Informatics, Computer Education, Computer Ethics, Women in IT, and Young IT Professionals. Judy is the Australian representative to the International Federation for Information Processing Technical Committee on Human-Computer Interaction (IFIP TC.13), a committee she chaired from 1995-2001. She served on the ACS NSW Branch Executive Committee for several years in the 1980s, rising to the position of Vice Chair in 1988-89. She is a member of the ACS Information Systems Board and has chaired the ACS National Computer Education Committee from 1986-91.

The error is regretted and apology is made to her for any hurt she may have incurred.

PhD in ICT from CSU

Charles Sturt University is to offer a professional doctorate intended for professionals working in the areas of information management and information systems. The course is designed to offer candidates the opportunity to investigate issues related to industry and/or their profession, and will be offered in part-time distance education mode.