Inventing apprenticeships for the future
In Summary
- A new initiative could reinvent apprenticeships in Australia
- Collaboration with Australian Government, Ai Group and Siemens Ltd Australia
- The program will focus on the skills and the tools required for the future workforce
Swinburne is working with government and business to develop a new apprenticeship model.
The new model will support the skills needed for the emerging fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0.
This innovative project will be implemented in collaboration with employer organisation Ai Group and engineering company Siemens Ltd.
A pilot scheme will involve up to 20 students taking part in a trial that will train them in cutting-edge manufacturing technologies including 3D metal printing, machine vision and virtual reality.
The apprentices will earn a Diploma in Applied Technologies from Swinburne.
The qualification will meet the particular needs of industry with a focus on the adoption of high-level technology skills and the tools required for the future workforce.
Swinburne Vice-Chancellor Professor Linda Kristjanson says the university is committed to delivering social and economic impact in partnership with industry.
"As Australia’s labour market is fundamentally reshaped by technological change, our education and training system must continue to evolve to meet industry needs,” Professor Kristjanson says.
“The Industry 4.0 Apprenticeship Program will focus on developing the skills required for future workforce participation to assure Australia’s position in an increasingly competitive global environment.”
Professor Kristjanson says the program aims to deliver graduates with the skills required to meet the impact of disruptive technologies in all industries and provide them with a competitive edge for employment following graduation.
“Students will benefit from Swinburne’s proud tradition of integrating practical workplace skills and tertiary education while being embedded within a world leading work environment provided by Siemens.”
The pilot combines the best of university and vocational learning models to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills of technically minded participants.
It also incorporates skills for the future in business and design. Participants will be highly capable and will be employed under arrangements built upon the apprenticeship model for the duration of the program.