The IT skills shortage has affected Novell's channel partners as well as the company internally and it has launched a training program in an attempt to reduce the problem.
Novell's training school transITions is a seven-week program developed by US systems networking company Terasys.
The program started on a proof of concept basis last month and is expected to launch 100 new recruits into the IT industry in 2000, ultimately lifting its yearly graduate output to 300.
Students in the course are trained in theoretical and practical aspects of networking and IT business management.
Novell will employ three of the course's 14 initial graduates, securing employment for the other 11 with the company's channel partners, including Australian Business Technologies (ABT).
Novell will assist with job placement for all subsequent graduates.
Cliff Smith, managing director of Novell in Australasia, said the program would be targeted towards non-IT employees wanting to change careers into the industry. The program would also focus on groups thought to be under-represented in the IT industry such as women, indigenous and disabled people, he said.