15 December 2006
A career in the IT industry is proving attractive again for Victoria's students, according to the latest figures from Monash University.
Despite a downturn in the IT education market, Monash University has experienced a substantial growth in applications for the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems degree, rising from 1610 applications in 2006, to 2075 so far for 2007. This figure is expected to rise even further after the change of preference period.
The November Olivier Internet Job Index also reveals that there is a growing demand for ICT graduates with the number of IT and Telecommunications jobs growing by 4.15% on the previous month, up 51% year on year. The index of all jobs grew by only 1.58%.
Internet and multimedia was the strongest individual sector, growing by 171%, while the largest individual sector, software development, grew 59.19%. NSW and Victoria enjoyed the strongest growth.
"It is very encouraging that more students are choosing to study information technology here at Monash. We have worked hard with our industry partners to ensure that the new course content is closely aligned to the needs of the industry and have added six new majors which are proving very popular," said Rowan Crosbie-Goold, at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology.
According to the Australian Computer Society (ACS), salaries have also increased for salary professionals. The 2006 ACS Remuneration Survey, conducted by APESMA (Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia) on members of the ACS, revealed that an IT graduate fresh into the workforce can expect to receive remuneration of around $43,384, a 7.7% increase on the 2005 average.
Monash University is the only one of Australia's research intensive, prestigious Group of Eight universities with a dedicated IT faculty and has global relationships with over 110 organisations world wide.
For more information please contact Jocelyn Hunter on +61 3 9902 0256.
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