Scholarships aim to get more Maori into IT Jobs

IT company EDS is fundingten scholarships worth $5,000 a year forMaori students keen on an IT career. Thescholarships also come with a packageof mentoring support and paid summerholiday work. The aim is to boost thenumber of Maori in IT, because industryand government are concerned there aretoo few.Chris Morrison from EDS, who isoverseeing the scholarship programme,says the company, which sells ITservices to businesses and government,recognises it needs to encourage youngMaori and give them the support theyneed to get started in an IT career.“We’ve already chosen some mentorsand aim to make sure they are a good fitwith the students chosen,” says Chris.“We’re also being a bit selfish, too,as there is a shortage of young peoplecoming into the industry and we want toattract them. We’re a good company, with140,000 employees worldwide.”

Jobs will be offered in either
Auckland or Wellington, where thecompany’s main New Zealand officesare located.So, how do you qualify? Thescholarships are aimed at Year13 students wanting to pursuean IT or business-oriented courseat university. “We’re quite openminded,”said Chris. However, the aimis for students to give back to the Maoricommunity, as the scholarships are partfunded by Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry ofMaori Development.“We want people who can contributeto the company, but also to the Maoricommunity,” says Chris.Maori Affairs Minister ParekuraHoromia backs the scholarships, andsays he wants Maori to become part ofthe knowledge economy and not justusers of IT.Although the scholarships are initiallyoffered for one year, this is reviewed atthe end of each year, so a student couldend up being funded for three years if heor she progresses well in their studies.Students can also apply to EDS’sgraduate programme at the end of theircourse.The scholarship programme waslaunched at the beginning of the yearand has already been a big success. Thishas led to the number of scholarshipsbeing increased from five to 10. Thescholarships are being offered over thenext three years, so Year 11 and 12students also have an opportunity toapply in the future.Scholarships are awarded for theforthcoming academic year, so if you’reinterested in studying IT or businessat university next year just go to theMaori Education Trust website (www.maorieducation.org.nz) or ask yourteacher or careers advisor for help inapplying.