MITN Partnership

The information technology sector's continuing need for skilled employees has been given top priority by CQUniversity and the Mackay Information Technology Network (MITN). The University and industry representative group signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Mackay Campus on March 31 2010 to address skills shortages in the information technology sector.

Dr Pierre Viljoen, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Community and Engagement) and Head of Mackay Campus, welcomed the opportunity for the University to work with MITN to enhance regional career prospects.

"Our intention is to strengthen regional engagement opportunities to explore ways to create benefit for the broader Mackay regional community.

"The Mackay region is experiencing skills shortages in many occupations and through partnering agreements we are able to encourage people to study locally and enhance the likelihood of graduates continuing to work in the region," Dr Viljoen said.

"This initiative coordinated by the Faculty of Arts, Business, Information and Education staff, Robyn Collins and Maree Franettovich, is an excellent opportunity illustrating how the University can work with community and their contributions are greatly appreciated."

MITN President Geoff Fleming said ICT is an important industry in its own right, employing over 500,000 people nationally, and it's a fundamental enabler of growth in other industry sectors.

"A very important step in achieving regional industry growth is to develop a skilled and qualified regional workforce to sustain the industry. That means attracting students into ICT careers, giving them high quality educational opportunities, and providing career paths to retain them in our region."

"The Partnering Agreement with CQUniversity is part of this strategy. MITN is undertaking to help the University increase the quantity and quality of ICT graduates through initiatives such as academic awards, industry input to courses, student work placements and careers advice. The University and MITN have cooperated informally in the past, and the Agreement formalises that interaction and provides a framework within which we can work towards our common goals."

A MITN function, was held at CQUniversity Mackay Campus on Wednesday 18th August, 5:30pm to 7:30pm in the new Library.

CQUniversity has big plans for the Mackay campus, which include an increased focus on ICT with the Dean of the School of ICT to be located here from 2011.

The current Acting Dean, Greg Whymark, brought his heads of program and other academic staff from Rockhampton to Mackay to meet and consult with the local industry about our people and skill requirements and how the University can tailor their programs to best fulfil them.

The aim of the MITN function was to introduce the staff to as broad a cross section of the local ICT industry as possible, as well as representatives of our broader regional industries including MAIN, REDC, DEEDI etc.

Dr Pierre Viljoen said a few words about future directions for CQUniversity and the Mackay Campus, and Greg Whymark and his staff outlined their plans for ICT. The evening was relatively informal and provided an excellent opportunity for networking between University staff and ICT industry representatives.