MYOB’s IT challenge to NZ’s top students

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Technology is redefining how people live, work and play, and as students you have a key role in shaping and defining our future – innovations that we haven’t even envisaged yetTim Reed, MYOB

Students across New Zealand will be putting their business and IT skills to the test over the next few weeks as the MYOB IT Challenge becomes a national competition for the first time.

The competition, run by accounting software provider MYOB with the University of Auckland’s Management Consulting Club, challenges teams of two to four students to come up with a software solution to a real life business problem.

MYOB CEO Tim Reed says the challenge provides students with the opportunity to think from a business perspective, study the market and bring an idea to fruition over a short period of time.

“Tech companies following lean and agile methodologies will often bring a solution to market in a short timeframe,” says Reed, in a statement. “This challenge gives the students a taste of what it will be like in the businesses they will work for following their graduation.”

Teams are given an IT business issue and asked to prepare a persuasive pitch for a panel of judges, including a business plan, working IT solution and go-to-market strategy.

Previously the educational event was held for students from the University of Auckland. This year they will be joined by participants from AUT University, the University of Canterbury, Massey University,Victoria University of Wellingtonand the University of Waikato, with each institution holding its own regional event.

The challenge culminates in a national final in Auckland at the beginning of July where the top teams from each university will go head-to-head for a share in the $5,000 prize pool and a leg-up in the IT world.

As Incubator Manager for the Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Canterbury, Michelle Panzer’s role is to create an array of opportunities for innovation to flourish in their student-dedicated space. She says she sees the MYOB IT Challenge as a chance for the students to build on their teamwork, analytical-thinking and presentation skills.

By working on a real business problem, our students will develop the skills and knowledge that will set them apart and help them tackle further problems faced by our society.Michelle Panzer, University of Canterbury

“Upon graduation, we want our students to be more employable and innovative. The MYOB IT Challenge helps with both of these. By working on a real business problem, our students will develop the skills and knowledge that will set them apart and help them tackle further problems faced by our society,” she says.

“There are also elements of enterprise and entrepreneurship required by the MYOB IT Challenge. For us, this knowledge and practice is crucial as we prepare our students to be able to pave their future and make a difference in the world.”

Reed says the programme also encourages the development of the technology and innovation of the future.

“At MYOB we’re really excited about the inaugural MYOB National IT Challenge because innovation and technology are both core to our business success. It’s how we stay ahead, how we provide the new products and services our customers expect.

“Technology is redefining how people live, work and play, and as students you have a key role in shaping and defining our future – innovations that we haven’t even envisaged yet,” he says.

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For more information on the MYOB IT Challenge see www.MYOBITChallenge.co.nz or follow on social media using the hashtag #MYOBITChallenge.