Institute of Data's training yields 96% tech employment rate
A recent review released by the Institute of Data reveals that 96% of its industry training graduates who participated in the job outcomes programme have successfully secured employment in the technology sector.
This programme, designed to be intensive and practical, boasts a significant employment success rate despite the broader market challenges.
The data from the report shows that 89% of participants found employment within six months of completing the short, focused educational offerings. The Institute of Data partners with Auckland University of Technology to offer full-time three-month or part-time six-month courses in fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering.
The review highlights an 87.1% graduation rate among its students, with all participants being encouraged to join the job outcomes programme. This embedded programme offers unlimited, personalised coaching, job application and interview workshops, and development of personal brands aimed at boosting their employment prospects.
Peter Harpur, CEO of the Institute of Data, emphasised the importance of such industry-ready training. He stated, "There is a big expectation for New Zealand's tech sector to grow the economy and lessen our country's reliance on agriculture. The government's goal to double New Zealand's exports by 2034 can only be achieved if there is significant tech growth over the next decade."
"This isn't possible without feeding the tech industry with a steady flow of new talent."
Harpur further elaborated on the necessity for up-to-date and practical training programmes, saying, "We started the Institute of Data because the development of quality tech workers was happening too slowly. What the sector needed was practical courses designed to quickly develop people with the up-to-date skills necessary to enter in-demand roles across data science, AI, cyber security and software engineering. Technology moves fast and waits for no one. Our courses are constantly reviewed and updated to ensure our participants are across the latest technologies and a step ahead of other job applicants."
The report also underscores the persistence required to succeed in the tech sector. Harpur described the importance of keeping graduates motivated, noting, "The fact so many of our graduates are finding work despite the current slowdown in the tech sector is a testament to how well our courses prepare participants for the workforce. It also demonstrates there is still unfilled demand for tech skills. The biggest challenge is keeping graduates motivated and applying for enough jobs per week and attending industry networking events."
Graduate Jan Madzin, now a security operations manager at DEFEND, credited his success to the job outcomes programme. "I really liked the Institute of Data's job outcomes programme," he said. "I used it to the full extent as I struggled to understand the New Zealand market. The team was amazing at helping me with this."
Graeme Muller, CEO of NZ Tech, echoed the importance of skilled professionals for the sector's growth. "The NZTech Annual Report 2024 shows that the number of digital tech firms in Aotearoa New Zealand grew by 5.3% to 24,306 firms in 2023, and despite the economic downturn, the number of jobs grew by 3,560 to a total of 121,630. To sustainably support this growth, the NZ tech ecosystem needs talented digital professionals from diverse backgrounds with the practical skills to achieve impact in industry," he noted.
The comprehensive review provides critical insights into the effectiveness of the Institute of Data's training programmes at addressing the tech talent shortage in New Zealand. The full Job Outcomes Report is available for those interested in further details.