EDS give young IT entrepreneurs a leg up
EDS give young IT entrepreneurs a leg up
IT outsourcing company EDS is presenting young IT professionals from across Australia with the opportunity to improve their international business skills and entrepreneurship through a prestigious scholarship.
Under the $750,000 EDS Australia program, fourteen people will win fully funded scholarships to study corporate strategy, marketing, management and other key areas at the Australian National University in Canberra in 2004.
The scholarships – which have assisted a total of 33 IT specialists since 2001 – aim to help Australian small and medium IT enterprises compete and thrive overseas.
Successful candidates will gain a Graduate Certificate of Management, and their units will count towards a diploma or MBA.
Employment with an SME, permanent residency in Australia, an undergraduate degree and a minimum of three years business experience are prerequisites for all scholarship candidates. For the successful applicants, EDS pays for airfares, tuition costs and on-campus accommodation.
In addition to a core curriculum, the part-time ANU course will involve elective units covering topics such as technology management, entrepreneurship, e-commerce and investment decision-making.
The national scholarship program is part of a package of industry development initiatives incorporated into the IT outsourcing agreement between EDS Australia and the Australian Taxation Office.
EDS Australia Managing Director Don Easter said the scholarships have proved extremely valuable to the winners, and the program was continuing to grow in stature and popularity.
"The program gathers together some of the best and the brightest young IT professionals in Australia, giving them a new set of skills and offering terrific opportunities to expand their business networks and knowledge of the industry.
"They'll come away from the course better equipped to translate ideas into action, and even more savvy and strategic in their approach to doing business internationally."
Nina Johansen, of Adelaide-based Strategic Data Management, who won a scholarship in last year's program, said the ANU course was one of the best she had undertaken.
"It was well run, relevant and interesting, and it significantly built on my knowledge of business management.
"I have also gained a fresh perspective on my work and feel I can contribute more effectively to my company's success."
Applications for the EDS Australia scholarship, which close on 17 October, should be sent to the Program Manager, EDS IT Scholarships, EDS University, Level 8, 108 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.eds.com.au
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