1300 363 128
In March this year a Digital Capability Project was launched aimed at identifying digital deficiencies found by Geelong organisations.
Project Sponsor – Harvest Talent Recruitment & People Solutions – have facilitated eight Think Tanks engaging with our Region’s Digital Specialists (Web and Software Developers and IT services and support organisations) and Corporates that employ staff into digitally enabled roles. The first of the Think Tanks were aimed at discovering the challenge with the second distilling the key themes.
Over 32 employers have leant their voice to the Project and the findings have included:
Corporate Generalists
Think Tank 1 covered the digital deficiencies and while the conversation was broad, the skills deficit for those in digitally enabled roles covered key themes of:
- Using common software
- First order trouble shooting
- The Cloud
- Understanding a Device
- Navigating Apps
- Performing Web Based Operations
- Linking Devices
- Knowing and understanding IT protocols and cyber security
- Communicating Digitally
- Navigating IT Infrastructure and
- Working effectively in the Cloud
In Think Tank 2 we distilled the priority skills and themes.
The top priority themes this group seeks from education are:
- Using common software
- Knowing and understanding IT protocols and cyber security
- Communicating Digitally
- Navigating IT Infrastructure.
- Performing Web-based operations and
- Working effectively in the Cloud
Within the second Think Tanks we captured the skills map under the themes.
In Think Tank 2 employers were provided the opportunity to map the skills required under the broader themes. An example follows from the SLIDO questionnaire with the Corporate Generalist groups.
A significant amount of data has been generated from Think Tank 2 and we have a rough “map” of skills that will be analysed and interpreted in the next stage of the project.
Digital Specialists
Think Tank 1
Here we discovered the digital group fell into three subcategories – IT Services, Web Developer and Software Developer. Broadly the digital themes included by the group at large were
- Platforms
- Programs
- Languages
- Databases
- Servers & Networks
- Virtualisation
This group listed higher order understanding of technology, time management, customer focus, communication, troubleshooting and interpretation of a need and delivering the right solution via technology (esp for Web and Software Developers).
In Think Tank 2 we honed the skills required by the sub-categories.
Web Developers
Web developers seek a course with key programs, languages, databases and design themes for websites incorporated into it. There is no such course in place at present.
This would be a bespoke course either delivered through electives in a Certificate in IT, a new course established and approved in the VET system or delivered via non-accredited pathways.
Software Developers
Software developers seek courses that go deeper in specific databases, design and languages that are used more commonly in software developed applications.
Many are covered broadly in tertiary education however the depth of learning and competency derived is to be determined.
IT Services
Divisions and Companies seek further penetration of courses in
- Software
- Security
- Networking
- Exchanges
- Servers
- Platforms
- Virtualisation
This then allows for proficiency to navigate and troubleshoot common challenges users have under these themes.
A gap analysis with the Gordon’s Centre for IT is to be conducted to determine where courses cover or miss the requisite skills sought by this sub-sector.
Soft Skills
Soft/employability skills were mapped across both Think Tank 1 and Think Tank 2 and broadly covered:
- Problem Solving/Troubleshooting
- Connecting/Collaborating
- Communicating
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Curiosity/Inquisitive
- Creative
- Critical Thinking/Interpretation
- Human Centred thinking
We will seek to incorporate these with the hard/technical skills as we interpret overarching credentials and address the combination of hard and soft skills required to demonstrate competency in a certain dimension.
With two months remaining where the skills will be mapped and reconciled with current course offerings a new project has just landed – Digital Jobs Victoria.
A major initiative of the Victorian Government the project has listed 10 priority digital skills and is rolling out a Digital Internship for unemployed, underemployed, displaced and individuals at risk of unemployment with aim of transition mid career individuals into digital careers.
The program is currently selecting candidates who will commence 1 of over 25 digital short courses over 12 weeks prior to the individuals moving into work-based internships with employers.
Harvest Director Maree Herath and Project Manager of the Building Digital Capability Project was quick to learn about the program. “The project runs for three years and will be staged in six-month intervals with 500 participants rolling through 12 weeks of free digital short-courses and 12 weeks of internships with employers. The State are aiming to have 25% of the cohort coming from regional Victoria but all employers, both in Melbourne and regional Victoria are welcome to open up internship opportunities for this cohort. While interns will be expected to be paid at least the minimum wage, employers can gain up $5000 in government subsidy for employing and mentoring these interns for the three months.” Maree states
Having dialogue with the Department this week, Maree gained insights as the courses are being released “The courses will be delivered by a mix of providers including 5 Universities, 6 Private Providers and 2 TAFEs. Many courses will be online given our current environment. The course handbook is hot off the press so employers can see the course offerings and choose from which dimension they would seek an intern. The most prominent for our region and the needs of our employers will be Web Development, Programming and Software Development, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Digital Marketing and Project (agile) Management.” Maree expands
The Building Digital Capability Program in Geelong has revealed that many of our employers will hire individuals with an appetite to pursue a digital career.
While the program is targeted at getting those out of work or at risk of unemployment into digital careers, there may be opportunity to use the programs to upskill those within organisations as the program unfolds.
“It’s early days but it definitely is a step in the right direction.” says Maree
You can register your business as an internship host at www.au.hudson.com/job-seekers/Victoria-digital-jobs-program/#for-businesses
