The University of Auckland Digital Services Graduate Program: Transforming Graduates to Valued Employees.

Empowering future technology leaders through an innovative program that develops, grows & sustains the holistic employee experience

The University of Auckland Graduate Program in Digital Services aims to transform graduates into valued employees through a comprehensive and structured approach. The program focuses on several key areas to ensure the successful development of its participants.

The program is based on a well-defined structure, which includes the Academy, Rotations, Retention & Promotion. The success of the program is measured by the quality of the outcomes.

The Academy provides a foundation for learning and development, while rotations offer exposure to various departments within Digital Services. Retention and promotion strategies ensure long-term career growth for graduates.

A key component of the graduate program is the Academy, this provides the foundational learning for graduates through structured and informative learning of product and services lifecycles.  
This includes:
- user experience problem identification, 
- problem definition, solution options, 
- secure solution design,
- solution development, 
- end to end testing, 
- change management,
- and operational support.

The Academy is led by internal Digital Services staff members.  We are investing in their leadership development in parallel to the graduates learning programme. 
Agile learning is a core component of the Academy, emphasising a mindset and method of skills development through iterative short bursts. This approach allows learners to dynamically adjust to changing needs and connect their learning to the enterprise's strategic outcomes.

Graduates participate in shadowing activities to gain exposure to different roles and work environments. They undergo three rotations in various departments across Digital Services This is followed by placement into permanent positions. Roles earmarked for graduates include Digital Developers, Functional Analysts, QA Engineers, Security Analysts, Platform Engineers, Application Specialists, and Service Management Analysts.

The retention rate for graduates of the program is 87.5% over five years it has been running. Graduates are promoted to junior positions upon completion of the program and to intermediate positions within 18-36 months.

The graduate program integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion through targeted activities and training sessions. This aims to develop culturally competent future leaders.

An iterative approach to program content, and continuous refinement of graduate profiles, ensures a fully engaged and fufilling experience for participants.