A multi-million dollar investment in Auckland’s Unitec institute of technology by global tech giant IBM will see more than 400 jobs created.

IBM is opening the country’s first delivery centre in February next year and will employ full- and part-time workers, along with students and graduates of Unitec.

It already has more than 50 delivery worldwide and this one will provide students studying for IT, business management and communications degrees with valuable experience working in the IT industry as part of their studies.

Unitec ceo Rick Ede is excited about the creation of 400 jobs over the next two years.

“Working with a highly respected global company will give our students the head start they need to get a great job when they graduate.

"Bringing innovative businesses such as IBM into the education environment is about matching the skills of our students with the demands of business and providing students with the experience they need to make a difference in their communities and in New Zealand.”

The centre will also provide joint guest lectures, mentoring, internship and graduate hire programmes. It will be based on IBM’s model at the Ballarat delivery centre in Australia, which has been running for seven years.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the announcement and believes it will lead onto employment for many IT graduates.

“The Government has been encouraging our tertiary institutions to work more closely with businesses and the commercial sector to develop opportunities for students and the organisations involved," he says.

"It is about matching the skills being developed in our training institutions with industry demand. This partnership between Unitec and IBM is a good example of that and will help create high-skill, high-wage jobs.”