A partnership between Dimension Data and Deakin University has resulted in Deakin’s first Bachelor of Cyber Security.
Initiated this year, the three-year undergraduate degree is aimed at helping training the IT security experts of the future and counts with the support of the Victorian Government and two big banks, NAB and ANZ.
With 100 students expected to graduate in 2019, up to 50 of these students will be given the opportunity to work at Dimension Data, Deakin, NAB or ANZ.
The Victorian Government is investing $1 million in the qualification by providing funding for four industry certification licences for each student undertaking Deakin University’s Bachelor of Cyber Security.
Dimension Data, ANZ and NAB have contributed to the course curriculum and will undertake ongoing reviews of the curriculum to ensure it remains relevant to industry requirements.
As part of the partnership, DiData and the banks will also provide professional insights to students, advise them on what is needed in the industry and what’s on the horizon. The companies will also provide 12-week internships for students during their studies.
Deakin University head of the school of IT, Professor John Yearwood, said the new course was designed to ensure students were job-ready upon graduating.
“Our new course, and this partnership, will help build confidence for businesses, consumers and the Australian economy, knowing that cyber resilience is being taught at the highest level, with Deakin providing world-class content,” Yearwood said.
According to Dimension Data director of strategy and innovation, Duncan Brown, the initiative will help launch future cyber experts into the workforce as it addresses the skill shortage of the industry.
“It’s been well documented that there’s a global shortage of cyber security professionals. At the same time, employers often report that candidates for cyber security roles are not ‘work-ready’ at the time of hire,” Brown said.
“We believe a holistic approach to education and training will help address these challenges and ensure that the next generation of graduates are set up for success from their first day in the cyber security arena.”
NAB chief information security officer, Andrew Dell, said this is a great opportunity for its experts to share their insights and knowledge to ensure they are helping develop job-ready graduates.
“ANZ is pleased to support this industry and academic partnership to address cyber security skill shortages and build the cyber defence skills needed to protect critical commercial and government assets into the digital age,” ANZ head of technology, cyber security, Adam Cartwright, said.
This is not the first partnership between Dimension Data and Deakin. Last year, the Victorian Government granted $450,000 through LaunchVic so both organisations could set up a cyber security incubator in order to accelerate the development of cyber security solutions and intellectual property.
The incubator is located at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus.
LaunchVic is an independent company set to accelerate start-ups, drive new ideas and create jobs in Victoria.
