Software whiz plays it hard

By JOSIE CLARKE

For four days, Rochele Eaton will sit in a huge stadium, eyes locked on a computer, taking on the world's brightest young computer operators.

She will be trying to earn the title "World Skills Champion" in software applications, and she is determined to beat competitors from 35 other countries lined up against her.

"I'm out to beat the Aussies, I'm out to beat everyone.

"If I don't win I'll be greatly disappointed."

The 22-year-old, who left school at 16 because she "didn't like it", is one of 13 young New Zealanders who will compete in Seoul, Korea, but she has a special incentive.

At the Australian World Skills national competition in March she finished first but was not named the winner because she is not an Australian citizen.

The Seoul competition, which starts on Thursday, is her one chance to take the world title.

To prepare, she has worked through a training programme over the past six months that has involved 1.5 hours of problem-solving and program exercises every night.

Ms Eaton, who works for gen-i, a New Zealand internet integrator company, said the training had provided her with a useful challenge.

The competition will test web design and document integration, skills she has honed since 1998 when she first took part in the regional level of the competition.

Her success qualified her to compete in Seoul, a large and prestigious competition that is expected to attract extensive media coverage and thousands of visitors.

As well as information technology, the competition involves the construction, automotive, electrical, engineering, hospitality and trades.

It aims to help young people, their teachers, trainers and employers to achieve world-class standards in commerce, services and industry.

Youth Skills New Zealand chief executive Albie Lund said the competitions would also provide a benchmark against the other 36 participating countries, and keep New Zealand abreast of new technologies and training methods.