The NSW government have announced the partners for the state’s first Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) for Digital Technology.
Microsoft, University of Technology Sydney, and Macquarie University will join forces with TAFE NSW to lead the education model.
Students studying at the IAT for Digital Technology can earn credentials at all academic levels, including a certificate, diploma, or bachelor’s degree.
Currently, the institute is under construction as part of the $154 million Meadowbank Education Precinct.
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet said the partnership will allow students to gain knowledge from multiple disciplines.
“This innovative partnership will see students merge the knowledge gained through university study with the hands-on technical skills acquired through vocational education, all in the one model,” Perrottet said.
Perrottet said the partnership with Microsoft was highly beneficial for students.
“To have a global technology leader like Microsoft as the foundational industry partner for the Institute of Applied Technology for Digital Technology is a no-brainer.”
“It means NSW jobseekers will be getting the absolute best vocational training supported by industry leaders and world-leading universities.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the institute will be crucial in establishing a strong and robust technology workforce in NSW and solving sector-wide skills shortages.
“The IAT for Digital Technology will first focus on the three signature disciplines of big data, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, ensuring the next generation of IT professionals can rise to the tech industry’s rapidly changing needs,” Lee said.
“These partners will create industry-led and embedded training programs, including Micro Skills and Micro-Credentials, Masterclasses, and Industry Credentialing to allow for rapid upskilling of our tech workforce.”
Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University Professor Bruce Dowton said the collaborative model would allow the IAT to be flexible when responding to industry change.
“Digital skills are in demand while the fast pace of technological change continues to impact the skill needs of the current and future workforce,” Dowton said.
“Providing training in emerging digital technology skill areas will be vital, not only for jobs in digital technology but also for jobs across all sectors, where digital tools and new technologies are reshaping roles and the future of work.”
The IAT for Digital Technology will open in August 2022.
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