RMIT University entered into a partnership that will see research collaboration and expertise exchange across advanced manufacturing and engineering.
According to a recent press release, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RMIT and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield, in UK, was formalised at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Partnership with university in UK
Under the MoU, the two universities will jointly undertake industry-driven research that is relevant to a range of problems in advanced manufacturing.
Through ongoing collaborative research involving universities, academics and industry, competitiveness can be increased, new products can be developed and a pipeline of talent and skills can be built.
The British Consul General Chris Holtby applauded the initiative as this is in line with the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
He added that this is a great example of two leading universities on opposite sides of the world working together with industry in order to share knowledge and drive innovation.
Both universities have established connections with major international organisations.
They are now seen as a blueprint for collaborative research involving universities, academics and industry that has transformed industrial and economic performance.
They have made this possible through changes in productivity, increasing competitiveness, developing new products and processes, and training new talent and skills.
The University of Sheffield houses the most advanced example of a research and innovation facility for manufacturing in the UK.
As such, RMIT has expressed an interest in working with the AMRC to establish its own ‘factory of the future’ to showcase its engineering capabilities to industry, schools and the local community.
Moreover, the universities also intend to jointly assist small and medium-sized enterprises across the UK and in Australia in forwarding their research ambitions, with new advanced manufacturing techniques.
As a global research facility, it is critical for the AMRC to build relations with like-minded engineering and manufacturing institutions around the world.
Australia, according to them, is the sort of can-do, entrepreneurial place where they can help make a difference.
Reciprocal visits by academics between the two institutions will commence in 2019.
Partnership with Singapore’s SkillsFuture
In other news, the University has also partnered with the Singapore Government’s SkillsFuture initiative in order to take the University’s disruptive online education model to Singapore.
The iOS App Development with Swift and the Developing Blockchain Strategy short courses will soon be included in the SkillsFuture list of industry-relevant training for mid-career professionals.
With a recent study predicting a global tech skills deficit of 4.3 million workers by 2030, SkillsFuture has been playing a key role in empowering Singaporeans to upskill and prepare for the future.
RMIT Online CEO Helen Souness said the collaboration was a positive step forward for both RMIT and the region.
The partnership presents an exciting opportunity to bring the University’s lifelong learning vision to a market acutely aware of the need to continually upskill its citizens to be ready for the future of work.
In a period defined by rapid technological advancements, nations are seeing a need to invest in developing home-grown talent to drive innovation and prosperity.
More than 12,000 enterprises and 465,000 Singaporeans participated in SkillsFuture in 2018.
RMIT Online first launched its industry-led short course model in Australia in November 2017.
Since then, it had grown to more than 18 industry-developed short courses, covering topics from virtual reality and augmented reality to artificial intelligence and digital marketing.
