Canada's technology sector is growing twice as fast as other sectors of the national economy but there's a scarcity of qualified people to fill all the positions created by this booming industry. Currently, there are approximately 20,000 unfilled technical positions in Canada.
A new UVic certificate program is addressing this shortage by offering students the skills and knowledge they need for careers in the country's information technology sector. The Certificate Program in Application and Management of Information Technology (AMIT), offered by the technology, engineering and computing (TEC) program area in the division of continuing studies, is a full-time, one-year program providing technical, business, management and career development training.
"The program allows you to enter the information technology industry in a short period of time and is focused on those who aren't in the industry now," says Elizabeth Vannan, program coordinator responsible for administration, admissions and curriculum. "We help people get that first job."
AMIT offers a blend of academic theory and hands-on technical training on leading-edge software in an adult education environment. Students will be offered assistance in obtaining 16-week, paid internships in the third term of the program.
"We have a 97 per cent placement rate for interns and a 95 per cent placement rate for grads of similar programs offered by TEC programs," says Conrad Bartles, program coordinator responsible for intern and graduate work placements. "Not surprisingly, the course is incredibly popular. Our January course is already full, so anyone who wants to take our training will have to wait until May."
"Many of our students come from industries that are being downsized - such as forestry and fisheries," says Vannan. "As well, quite a few people are from the military. Over
30 per cent of our students are women and we've also attracted students with disabilities."
Besides acquiring academic certification, graduates are also qualified to take Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Oracle certification exams, and may elect to write additional exams for other technical certifications. For more information about AMIT, contact the program administration office at 472-4666 or check out AMIT's Website at http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/tecweb.