Recruiter and Victoria University team to produce SAP postgraduates

Stan Beer
Thursday, 08 May 2008 16:33

IT People - Enterprise

IT recruiter, Diversiti, has partnered with Victoria University to create a program aimed at generating a pipeline of SAP postgraduate talent for Australian organisations. Demand for industry-ready candidates, who specialise in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and, in particular, SAP, is escalating and there is a lack of talent emerging from tertiary studies around Australia.

In a drive to provide a solution to meet the high demand for SAP candidates, the SAP Work Integrated Learning Alliance program aims provides an effective route for employers to access post graduates with industry-specific SAP training.

Paul Rowley, General Manager of Diversiti Victoria, said, “The growing demand for SAP skilled candidates is placing considerable pressure on companies as they struggle to source SAP talent. Now more than ever, industry and education leaders need to collaborate to create and nurture a growing and sustainable ICT workforce for the future.

“Diversiti has developed a collaborative platform, and has worked closely with Victoria University over the past six months to launch the SAP Work Integrated Learning Alliance. Our strategic objective is simple; to provide a pipeline of SAP postgraduates that meet the evolving needs of our business partners.

“Participating employers have access to a channel of bright and motivated, future leaders in SAP. After completion of the Work Integrated Learning placement, organisations have the option to employ graduating students on a permanent or contract basis.”

Victoria University’s School of Information Systems specialises in ERP education in the Asia Pacific Region and has a long-standing partnership with SAP.

Paul Hawking, Senior Lecturer at Victoria University’s Department of Information Systems, said, “Our ERP Work Integrated Program is unique in Australia and goes a long way to addressing the growing shortfall in SAP experts in the region.  Importantly, it will also foster direct links between future IT leaders and potential employers.

“Collaborating with Diversiti allows Victoria University to establish stronger links with industry and gain insight into the long-term pipeline of IT projects,” he said.

“This insight will give us the opportunity to identify the type of projects for which employers need SAP graduates and allow us to tailor our courses to meet the needs of the industry and provide relevant education to our students.

“We also believe this program will provide excellent opportunities to the student body, both for work experience and long-term employment. The strength of our courses, coupled with the benefits of a Work Integrated Learning placement, will attract more students to Victoria University and the IT industry,” said Mr Hawking.