Computer giant IBM launched its first Delivery Centre in New Zealand at the Campus of Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland’s Mt Albert, aiming to prepare students for the digital economy and support businesses to access new skills in mobile and analytics and advanced technology.
An earlier report appeared in our August 15, 2012 issue.
The Centre, run in partnership with Westpac over a five-year contract, is based on IBM’s model at the Ballarat Delivery Centre at the University of Ballarat in the Australian State of Victoria.
The New Zealand initiative would be a part of IBM’s global network of 50 centres to offer expertise in innovative business process outsourcing and services to local and international clients.
Extensive services
These services include human resources, finance and administration and customer relationship management as well as supply chain management and remote technical support. These services will use advanced analytics to maximise operations, cut costs and provide continuous innovation for IBM’s clients, leading to enhanced customer service outcomes, improved recruitment and decision-making processes, increased visibility and control of working capital, and more cost effective supply chain systems.
A central feature of the IBM – Unitec collaboration is extended industry based ‘Earn As You Learn’ placements, which provide valuable experience for students studying IT, business management and communications degrees.
The Centre would also deliver application development and management services including data management, JAVA development and business process modelling.
The Centre’s team comprises post-graduate and under-graduate computer science students, supervised by experienced IBM developers and managers.
A new chapter
Prime Minister John Key opened the new facility on February 14, stating that the Centre marked an important phase in New Zealand’s computer services sector.
Unitec Chief Executive Dr Rick Ede described the Centre as “an excellent example of collaboration between business and tertiary education.
It will make positive contribution to the economic prosperity of New Zealand, he said.
“Unitec students can now look forward to the opportunity of working with IBM, one of the world’s leading business solutions companies, and other premier brands before they graduate. Companies like Westpac will benefit from access to a highly skilled and motivated workforce, and the broader New Zealand business community will ultimately benefit by being able to access job-ready graduates,” he said.
Valuable opportunities
According to Jim Stabback, Chief Operating Officer of Westpac New Zealand, the new Centre will create invaluable opportunities for talented students transitioning into their careers.
“The Centre fits ideally with our ‘Grow NZ Programme,’ focused on encouraging investment for growth. This is a significant investment by Westpac that will help create jobs and grow the economy,” he said.
IBM New Zealand Managing Director Jennifer Moxon said that the company’s investment in the new Centre added to its long history of collaborating with the tertiary sector to develop graduates with the right skills to work in today’s services oriented economy.
“I am delighted that Westpac, a longstanding client, will be the first to experience the business benefits of the Delivery Centre at Unitec, while contributing to building new skills for New Zealand,” she said.
400 new jobs
Ms Moxon said that IBM anticipated employment opportunities for about 400 people in the next two years, including full-time and part-time professionals, as well as Unitec graduates and current students.
“IBM’s investment in the Unitec collaboration will also enable annual scholarship programmes and jointly developed guest lectures, mentoring, internship and graduate hire programmes,” she said.
The picture appearing here shows Prime Minister John Key, with (from left) Ted van Arkel (Unitec Chairman), Dr Ede, Ms Moxon, Andrew Stevens (IBM Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand) and Michelle Bendschneider (IBM General Manager, Global Process Services, Australia & New Zealand).
Unitec is a Sponsor of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2013.
