ACS Foundation

Main business activity

The ACS Foundation (ACS F) was established in August 2001 by the Australian Computer Society to provide scholarships to assist IT students to become ‘work ready’ and more quickly productive after they graduate.

Who we are

The ACS established the ACS Foundation, which is a Designated Gift Recipient organisation of the ATO, with two broad scholarship programmes:

• Grow A Graduate – where a donor organisation provides a scholarship for a student to do part, or all, of their course. We encourage the donor to be very specific about their requirements – the type of student, their location, the type of course they are enrolled in and the skills they wish them to have when they complete their course.
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL) – where a donor organisation provides a scholarship for an undergraduate student to experience the real workplace on a full time basis over an extended period, up to 48 weeks.

These programmes have been enthusiastically received and supported by the IT industry. Since its launch, the ACS F has attracted over $17.5 million in contributions, and has awarded over 1200 scholarships.

By advancing IT through education and research at a national level, and better utilising existing training and research opportunities, the Foundation will create new and diverse avenues to help meet the challenges facing a rapidly changing workplace.

Click here to watch John Ridge, Executive Director of the Foundation Board, discussing what role the ACS Foundation play in the ICT industry and the key benefits of their initiatives for organisations and students alike.

Benefits to the scholarship sponsor

Research in 2000/2001 showed that in Sydney and Melbourne 45% of new graduate’s changes jobs in the first 12 months whereas of those involved in work integrated learning (WIL) type programs 70% were still with the same organisation seven years later.

Benefits to the scholarship holder

The benefits to the graduates include ensuring they graduate not only with their degree qualifications, but with one year’s relevant and industry attractive work experience. Research shows they gain better grades in their final year and they often multiple jobs offers to consider because they have more understanding of what is valued and required by their sponsor organisation and the industry.

The ACS F is a ‘value-adding’ entity that works closely with our industry partners to meet their requirements and to develop and deliver graduates who are work ready and with industry relevant skills.

Locations

The ACS F is a national organisation based in Sydney with offices in Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.