Information and communications technology workforce study

The report examines and reviews the range of skill sets and units of competency currently provided in the training packages that IBSA is responsible for and creates a taxonomy of ‘e-skills’ from generalist foundation-level skills, to extension-level skills that apply to particular occupational contexts, to the strategic level that comprises high-end, ICT-intensive skills. Regional Australians and at-risk groups are identified as primary targets for foundational skills, and extension and strategic-level ICT skills are tagged as essential for the adoption and deployment of ICT services. The report recommends the addition of 17 new and 25 enhanced units of competency in the Information and Communications Technology and/or the Business Services training packages to meet these skills requirements. The report is a useful document for all Industry Skills Councils to consider as they conduct industry consultations for the continuous improvement of training packages. There is the potential for some of the 17 new or 25 enhanced units of competency to be mapped against existing units of competency and, if appropriate, transported into other training packages. Three of the units relate to training and education competencies that IBSA suggests should be held by those delivering ICT training.²⁷¹

A generic digital literacy unit or unit of competency may help learners to contextualise ICT in a particular discipline and learn many of the foundational concepts related to ICT. However, these offerings are unlikely to be specific or detailed enough to facilitate the development of what IBSA calls strategic-level ICT skills. For individuals seeking to develop these skills and position themselves for employment in Australia’s growing ICT sector, the provision of postgraduate or higher level VET conversion programs may enable students from a range of disciplines to develop strategic, ICT-intensive skills.

The Irish Government is currently delivering an ICT graduate conversion program. From March 2012, it rolled out 800 places in intensive ICT skills conversion programs, run by a range of higher education providers in partnership with industry.²⁷² In February 2013, a further 760 conversion places were announced in 15 individual programs across 10 higher education institutions. The additional placements were announced following ‘very positive initial evaluation and strong industry endorsement’ of the 2012 program.²⁷³ Each of the conversion courses funded by the Irish Government features collaboration with an extensive group of ICT enterprises. The enterprises inform course design and offer three- to six-month student placements. Places in the conversion courses are fully funded and available to students with a Level 8 or equivalent qualification, which is equivalent to a bachelor degree with honours or above. The courses lead to an honours-level degree in computer science.²⁷⁴

The Irish context is very different to the Australian context, and this program reflects the status of ICT as a high-performing industry in an otherwise poorly performing economy, and the high unemployment rate among young Irish people. However, given continuing low levels of engagement in mainstream ICT courses, set against the projected increase in demand for ICT-intensive skills in the medium to long term, a comparable approach may be worth pursuing in Australia.

AWPA recommends that the Australian Council of Deans of ICT work with the Australian Computer Society, the Australian Information Industry Association and other industry associations to consider the design of a pilot conversion program in Australia. To facilitate the delivery of ICT-intensive skills, the program would need to be at Australian Qualifications Framework Level 9 (master degree by coursework), and would take up to two years for a graduate from another discipline to complete. As is the case with the Irish model, the pilot must garner extensive industry engagement to ensure that the program is relevant to the needs of industry and, therefore, likely to lead to strong employment outcomes for participants.

Recommendation 8 That the Australian Council of Deans of ICT, the Australian Computer Society, the Australian Information Industry Association and other industry associations develop a pilot ICT-intensive skills conversion program aimed at recent graduates from other disciplines. This program could be delivered at Australian Qualifications Framework Level 9 (master degree by coursework).