Universities meet AUKUS needs with postgraduate courses

Universities are working to fill AUKUS high technology skill needs with masters degrees and other postgraduate courses.

Universities are offering postgraduate courses to build the skills needed for the AUKUS pact. Picture: Richard Wainwright

Universities are working to fill the hi-tech skill needs generated by the AUKUS pact with new masters and other postgraduate courses.

Flinders University has partnered with the University of Manchester, the lead university in the UK’s Nuclear Technology Education Consortium, to deliver its masters and doctoral programs and develop Australian expertise that is able to build, maintain and operate nuclear submarines.

The University of South Australia has begun delivering its MBA degree in defence and space which will teach a range of skills needed by executives as and managers as the AUKUS projects get underway. Topics include cyber security, space systems, geopolitics and defence procurement, as well as innovation and leadership capabilities.

UniSA is delivering the MBA in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University in the US and Exeter University in the UK and the 18-month course includes three intensive face-to-face teaching blocks in Adelaide, Washington DC and London.

Three universities – UNSW, the University of Adelaide and Curtin University – have joined defence companies Babcock Australasia and HII to form the AUKUS Workforce Alliance with the intent of producing the skilled workforce needed for the AUKUS nuclear submarines.

UNSW brings its unique capabilities in nuclear engineering and offers postgraduate and short courses in the area.

“UNSW is pleased to be contributing our unique expertise and capabilities to the groundbreaking AUKUS Workforce Alliance.,” said UNSW vice-chancellor Attila Brungs.