The federal government has announced it will provide $3.6 million to trial the expansion of a one-year Diploma in Applied Technologies across six universities next year.
Developed by Swinburne University of Technology and Siemens, the diploma will be expanded through University of Western Australia, University of Tasmania, University of South Australia, University of Technology Sydney, and University of Queensland.
Diploma students will be drawn from small and medium enterprises in key manufacturing industries.
Federal education minister Dan Tehan said that training had to provide workers with the skills to keep up with technological advances, such as advanced manufacturing, increasing data capacity, robotics and automation.
“This diploma will build a skilled workforce in the manufacturing sector that will be vital to Australia’s future productivity,” Tehan said.
“This research collaboration matches industry with the knowledge and research firepower of Australian universities.”
Tehan said that Australia’s future productive will rely on educated workers able to access innovation and research to drive growth and productivity.
“If we get this right, the productivity improvements the sector can deliver will be worth $2.7 billion to GDP per annum. Helping young Australians to succeed at gaining employment will also grow Australia’s productivity and the economy overall,” he said.
“The research done by our universities can lead to the development of new products and innovations that drive job growth, business opportunities and productivity gains.”