As a journalist at iTnews:
In a bid to address the high demand for local technical skills in the Australian ICT and telecommunications industries, telecommunications vendor Nortel has announced a new training agreement with TAFE New South Wales.
The agreement places Nortel's Technology Solutions Academy courseware as part of the 2008 curriculum in nine TAFE NSW Institutes across the state. Nortel’s courseware includes three books - a lab guide, a student guide and a resource guide – that all focus on the generic VOIP technology.
On completion of an accredited course at TAFE, students have the option to sit an exam for Nortel Professional certification. The course consists of between 80 to 100 hours of theoretical work and 20 hours of lab work, and can be either taught as a stand alone, or incorporated into a current curriculum.
"Our main challenge at TAFE is to meet the skills requirement of industry, and at this particular time in Australia we're faced with incredible demand for technology and telecommunications skills," said Susan Hartigan, relieving general manager of TAFE NSW’s Business division.
"By adding Nortel technology training solutions to our teaching and learning resources, TAFE NSW will not only become more attractive to prospective students, but will also provide our current students with a competitive advantage in the workforce."
TAFE NSW is also partnered with a number of different companies across various industries to provide its students with a mix of theoretical and industry knowledge, with a focus on gaining experience with current technologies, Hartigan said.
"This agreement with TAFE NSW is another major milestone for us,” said Mark Stevens, managing director of Nortel Australia and New Zealand, “especially at a time where graduates are faced with managing the unprecedented growth in corporate networks and the onset of new communication and transmission technologies like unified communications, WiMAX and Metro Ethernet networks."
Although Nortel’s Technology Solutions Academy program is available to all colleges and universities that offer IT courses, TAFE was the first Australian institute to sign up for the program, according to Frances Lambert, Training Program Manager of Nortel’s Knowledge Services Asia.
The certification gained from completing the TAFE course will not be any different from the certification gained from completing an independent Nortel course, Lambert said.
The first course to be offered through the new agreement will centre on VoIP technologies and will be available from March 15. Other upcoming courses include BCM 50 on March 25, Basic Data Networking on April 15, and Real Time Networking on May 1.
