ACS Foundation to Award 61 New ICT Scholarships in 2003

ACS Foundation Supports Total of 87 Scholarships Worth $1.9 Million

Thursday 10 April 2003 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) Foundation has begun awarding the first of 61 new scholarships worth nearly $1.2 million to students enrolled in ICT courses around Australia. Combined with 26 continuing scholarships awarded in 2002, the Foundation has now committed to support a total of 87 ICT students to the tune of $1.9 million.

The first scholarships were awarded on Friday 28th March as part of the West Australian Information Technology & Telecommunications Awards (WAITTA) in Perth, with WA Minister for IT, Clive Brown, making the presentations on behalf of the Foundation.

Additional presentation ceremonies are being staged in coming weeks in each of the five states in which scholarships programs operate under the umbrella of the Foundation - QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and WA.

The rapid expansion of the ACS Foundation follows a groundswell of support from across the ICT industry and academic sector, with the number of sponsors rising from just 18 at the beginning of 2002 to 83 sponsors today.

"We've been delighted with the level of support the Foundation has experienced over the past 12 months, with sponsorship from companies and individuals within the ICT industry, academic institutions and government utilities," said John Ridge, Chair of the Foundation Board.

"The increase in sponsorship enabled the Foundation to establish its first branch chapter last year, in Western Australia, which has enabled us to award 10 scholarships in that state for 2003."

Of the 87 scholarships in total, 43 are in Victoria, 29 in NSW, 10 in WA, three in QLD and two in SA.

"The biggest growth has come from Deakin University, where the Foundation and its donors supported nine scholarships last year, but where this year we will be awarding a total of 26 scholarships to students enrolled in ICT-related courses," said the Foundation's Executive Director, Peter Rose.

The Foundation is also hosting seven scholarships for GAMAA, the Graphic Arts Merchants' Association of Australia, which has partnered with ACSF in support of its goal to provide IT Management education and training to develop the careers of people in the printing industry.

These are offered on a national basis, with three operating in NSW, two in Victoria and two in Queensland.

Mr Rose said after less than two years of operation, the ACS Foundation continued to exceed all expectations in terms of growth and scholarship numbers and dollars.

"Back in 2001 when we launched the Foundation, we set the ambitious goals of supporting 100 scholarships per annum and pledges of five million by the time the Foundation was five years old," he said.

"With 87 scholarships being supported this year, I think I can confidently say we'll achieve our target of 100 scholarships by 2005, and we currently have pledges to the value of just over $3 million, so that target is well within our sights as well."

The Chief Executive of the ACS, Dennis Furini, said the Society was delighted with the way the scholarship program was developing.

"While the ACS established the Foundation to encourage students to undertake ICT courses, we particularly wanted to assist disadvantaged students and women , as well as students based outside the capital cities," he said.

"These goals are also being achieved with the ACS now supporting students from a variety of backgrounds including visually-impaired, female and regional students involved in undergraduate and post-graduate studies.

"It's great to see so many industry bodies, companies and individuals throwing their support behind the ACS Foundation, but best of all, we're glad to be able to help so many committed young people achieve their goals of becoming first-rate ICT professionals," Mr Furini said.

This media release is available on the ACS Web site at http://www.acs.org.au/news/100403.htm

ENDS

About the ACS Foundation: An initiative of the Australian Computer Society, the ACS Foundation was established in August 2001 to encourage both private and public sponsorship of IT higher education and research projects. By increasing funding opportunities for industry to contribute to education programs, the Foundation seeks to create a highly skilled workforce, able to effectively access research and industry-specific training. The only national scholarship facilitator focused exclusively on the IT industry, the ACS Foundation receives funding from IT companies, industry associations, Government bodies, individuals and the ACS itself. )

About the Australian Computer Society: The ACS is the recognised association for information technology (IT) professionals, attracting a large and active membership from all levels of the IT industry and providing a wide range of services to its 16,000+ members. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the public voice of the IT profession and the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the IT industry, with a commitment to the wider community to ensure the beneficial use of IT. See the ACS Home Page for more information.

Media Enquiries:

John Ridge, ACS Foundation Board Chair, Tel: (0407) 913 992, Email: jridge@acslink.net.au

Peter Rose, ACS Foundation Executive Director, Tel: (0405) 198 404, Email: peter.rose@acsfoundation.com.au

Caroline New, ACS PR Consultant, Tel: (02) 9555 1986 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au