- Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
An innovative pilot program that partners training providers with industry is providing positive results.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Karen Andrews, visited Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne and met with participants of the Industry 4.0 Higher Apprenticeships Pilot.
“One of five pilots in a $9.2 million program funded by the Australian Government, this exciting project will showcase the role of higher apprenticeships in helping to fill the jobs of the future,” Minister Andrews said.
“Programs like this are incredibly important, given the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, big data and digitalisation, which will require workers to attain higher-level qualifications.”
The pilot is led by Ai Group, in partnership with Siemens Australia and Swinburne University of Technology, with Siemens recruiting 19 higher apprentices to participate in the pilot.
In the first year of the three-year program, participants will complete a new Diploma in Applied Technologies, developed by Swinburne. This involves 20 weeks of study at Swinburne and 28 weeks of hands-on work-based training at Siemens.
“Instead of the traditional university pathway, participants are able to earn while they learn, and access cutting edge technology to develop advanced skills,” Minister Andrews said.
“This pilot will help build the profile of vocational education and training and, combined with the Skilling Australians Fund, provide a much-needed boost in the number of apprenticeships and traineeships.”