Australia’s first higher degree apprenticeship program, developed in partnership with the Australian Industry Group, has been nominated for an esteemed award.
South Australia’s Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship is a finalist in the Future Builder Award category of Universities Australia’s Shaping Australia Awards.
It was developed through partnership between the Ai Group Centre for Education and Training (Ai Group CET), the University of South Australia and industry partners including BAE Systems Australia.
The innovative program addresses the challenges of attracting diverse students to STEM fields by removing financial barriers.
It blends academic study with work-integrated learning, allowing students to earn while they learn in real-world settings.
Students complete an accredited Bachelor of Software Engineering while employed as an apprentice with participating companies.
Ai Group CET Executive Director Caroline Smith said the nomination was a credit to everyone involved.
“This model is a great way to marry the detailed level of knowledge a university degree brings, with the application of skills in real workplaces an apprenticeship provides on a day-to-day basis,” Dr Smith said.
“We are also finding degree apprenticeships can broaden the demographic of people studying university degrees.”
Dr Smith said Ai Group members were enthusiastic about degree apprenticeships.
“This model of learning gives members the opportunity to shape their apprentices’ learning according to how they approach things in their own workplace, plus they afford companies early access to new talent.”
The Shaping Australia Awards shine a spotlight on the impactful contributions universities make in shaping Australia’s future through teaching, research and community service.
The University of South Australia was recognised for its engagement with industry to bridge knowledge gaps and complete students’ skillsets.
The Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship has been praised as an innovative, out-of-the-box teaching program that motivates students to push the limits to forge successful careers.
Thirteen students commenced the program in its first intake in 2024. Companies are now recruiting for the second intake, to commence early in 2025.
The Shaping Australia Awards recognise 15 finalists across three categories.
Two winners per category will be awarded – one selected by the Australian public through a People’s Choice voting system and one chosen by a panel of eminent Australians.
The People’s Choice voting is open until Sunday, January 19.
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at the Australian Industry Group. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a reporter, features writer, contributor and sub-editor for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK.
