TechNZ adds to student internships

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TechNZ, the business investment arm of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, says it is experiencing unprecedented demand for its undergraduate internship programme.

More than 450 applications were received for the programme - which gives firms funding to employ science, technology or engineering students over the summer break - in 2010/2011.

Because of the increased demand, the ministry decided to fund an extra 10 placements, taking the total number of current interns to 195.

Ministry investment services manager Hamish Campbell said the students provided numerous benefits to firms.

"They get a student who's studying for a technical or science qualification who can bring some insight and new ways of doing things into their business," Campbell said.

"They also get someone at a relatively low cost who has good technical skills to work on a project."

The programme provides baseline funding of $16 an hour, plus GST, for up to 400 hours of work. Students must work on a specific research and development (R&D) project.

Campbell said the practical experience students gained was essential, and sometimes led to full-time employment after graduation. "Businesses tend to see [the internships] as a way of feeding a future workforce."

Gary Nel, chief executive of showerware firm Methven New Zealand, said it had taken on its first TechNZ-funded undergraduate this summer. "It's certainly beneficial to both parties."

Deana Barnard of Compac Sorting Equipment said the firm saw its students as "our investment in the future".

In December the state awarded $92 million to 26 firms through the technology development grant programme.