Launch of Higher Education Trade Degree Apprenticeship in Engineering at Flinders University
September 3, 2024
Flinders University has partnered with defence industry primes ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems Australia to launch a landmark Higher Education Trade Degree Apprenticeship in Engineering, which will fast track skilled professionals needed critically in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence and renewables.
The South Australian Skills Commission has formally declared the degree apprenticeship pathway for mechanical engineering, which will be tailored to support students into promising defence industry careers.
The program allows students to undertake paid apprenticeships with global companies while still undertaking their university degree. It means they can earn while they learn and get a head-start on the career into an in-demand sector.
Flinders University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Stirling says trades are no longer at odds with a degree, thanks to Flinders visionary approach to knowledge development which will bridge the blue- and white-collar divide.
“Our trailblazing Degree Apprenticeship in Engineering – one of the state’s most in demand fields – will enable student apprentices to emerge with degree level qualifications in addition to practical skills.”
“It will support jobs growth by tackling pressing skills shortages and be a blueprint for a new generation of engineering studies nationally.”
Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Romy Lawson told media that this ‘is an innovative educational approach that is going to dismantle the traditional divide between trade and degrees, and create a new generation of students who are highly skilled and industry ready graduates.’
South Australia is leading the nation in its approach to paid education pathways with the creation of a second Degree Apprenticeship program.
New Degree Apprenticeship pilot programs will be supported by an additional $2.5 million in joint South Australian and Federal Government funding, as a key commitment of the SA Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Romy Lawson, BAE Systems Australia Manufacturing Engineering Manager Tom Johnson, Minister for Education Blair Boyer with Findon Technical College students Lilil Kounavelis and Hudson Scott.
Deputy Premier Susan Close says South Australia is embarking on a period of significant workforce and skills development in response to the major defence projects we’ve been entrusted to deliver.
“This is a capability uplift of unprecedented scale. The establishment of degree apprenticeships is just one way the South Australian Government is matching local jobseekers and school leavers with the thousands of defence industry career opportunities coming online.”
Over the next four years, eligible universities registered in South Australia can apply to establish and deliver degree apprenticeship pilot programs aligned to defence industry workforce needs.
Degree apprenticeships combine higher education degrees with paid industry experience, enabling students to secure their place in one of more than 11,000 defence industry roles required in South Australia over the next 20 years.
Minister for Education Blair Boyer says a job in South Australia’s defence industry requires a mix of hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge – making a degree apprenticeship the perfect model to transform entry-level jobseekers into highly capable employees.
“We are leading the nation in ensuring young people have opportunities that will lead to well-paying in-demand careers. The Malinauskas Labor Government is proud to be building an agile skills system, able to quickly respond and forge accessible career pathways into areas of growing industry demand.”
South Australian Skills Commissioner, Cameron Baker says the South Australian Skills Commission is pleased to see this degree apprenticeship commencing in 2025, and for SA to be leading the nation with this approach in connecting VET and higher education pathways.
“We are supportive of how the model is being developed in South Australia and how it could be applied to other industries and disciplines, where on-the job learning while studying at university could fast-track the development of work-ready university graduates.
“The South Australian Skills Commission is committed to developing an agile, industry aligned skills system that meets skills and workforce needs and enables careers in our growing industries.”
ASC Pty Ltd Managing Director CEO Stuart Whiley says young South Australians now have an incredible opportunity to earn while they learn in advanced technology jobs.
“As the Australian Government’s Sovereign Submarine Partner for nuclear powered submarine sustainment and joint partner the AUKUS SSN build, ASC Pty Ltd is proud to contribute to the expansion of the Degree Apprenticeships model in South Australia in partnership with Flinders University and BAE Systems Australia.”
“The SSN-AUKUS program is the biggest defence industrial undertaking in our history and requires the adoption of innovative education models for rapidly expanding and upskilling our engineering workforce.”
BAE Systems Australia Chief People Officer Angela Wiggins its national workforce of more than 6,300 is growing.
“We are working closely with the South Australian Government and our education partners on innovative approaches to meet our workforce needs.”
“This degree apprenticeship program is a world-class example of industry, the education sector and government working together for the benefit of Australia. Of the 2600 engineers we employ, more than 370 are mechanical engineers. When they graduate, these apprentices will have experience and a degree in a high demand skill area.”
Jan Irvine, Engineers Australia SA General Manager says Engineers Australia supports innovative degree structures that create diverse pathways, integrating industry needs with learning opportunities.
“By enabling students to earn while they learn, we empower them to kickstart their careers in high-demand sectors—giving both students and industries a head-start on success.”
The curriculum covers a broad span of engineering fields, including mechanical, civil, electrical and electronic, nuclear, maritime, robotics, environmental and biomedical.
Apprentices graduating with degree qualifications will have a head start in myriad careers, from space exploration, advanced manufacturing, communications and defence to climate change, mining, agriculture and healthcare.
The courses will be delivered at our new city campus and will also be a pathway for students enrolled in South Australia’s new Technical Colleges starting at Findon, with Tonsley to follow upon opening. Students must have completed their SACE and must meet the entry requirements demonstrated though a Flinders developed Technical Colleges pathway. Students in other schools can utilise the University’s standard admission pathways to Engineering for entry to the Degree Apprenticeship. Students securing a Degree Apprenticeship will learn in the workplace as well as on campus.
The initial intake of student apprentices will commence in 2025, with the Degree Apprenticeship able to be completed in five years.
More information on the Degree Apprenticeship in Engineering is available at https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/engineering/mech-eng-earn-and-learn
