Industry is moving fast, and technology even faster, and yet our tertiary institutions, and the qualifications they offer can’t seem to keep pace.

Education is Australia’s third largest export and Victoria’s second largest. To remain competitive, and continue to not only grow our sector, but meet the ever-growing need for tech talent, we need to reconsider how we develop our students into industry-ready professionals.

The panel discussion was led by Kee Wong of e-Centric Innovations. He was joined by:

 Dr Andy Giddy - Executive Director, Business Innovation, LaTrobe University

•  Dr Andy Giddy - Executive Director, Business Innovation, LaTrobe University
• Cameron McIntyre - Managing Director and CEO, carsales.com Limited
• Mary Lemonis – Executive GM People & Culture at REA Group
• Paul Naphtali - Managing Partner, Rampersand Venture Capital
• Tony Bates - Deputy Secretary, Financial Policy & Information Services, Department of Education & Training Victoria

Together, the panel discussed:

• The current state of the pool of tech talent
• Solutions for building a pool of tech talent here in Australia
• A new education model that would bring together universities and industry

The Top Takeouts:

1. The way that technology transforms economies, and education is key pillar of the Victorian economy. Recognition of the power of the Victorian economy however, isn’t high and one of our biggest exports is under threat, not by other universities, rather from online platform players
2. Local graduates lack technical skills, professional and interpersonal skills and commercial skills.
3. This talent shortage is undoing the work being done by the Victorian Government to attract international businesses.
4. Global trend in businesses no longer requiring applicants to have university degree
5. We have a cultural aversion to innovation.  It’s something that’s feared rather than welcomed and a narrative change is required “people that are using their brains are our greatest resource.”  
6. Creating a talent pool means getting kids interested and involved in STEM from a young age. We currently aren’t starting early enough.  
7. The opportunity exists to create a commercial, industry-based credential utilising Australia’s teaching IP.
8. That credential for students needs to comprise three key components: Best online content, best on-site learning experience, best on-premise practical experience.
9. The here and now problem is a dislocation between supply and demand.  We should be using this opportunity to create a better model that will address our local demand for tech talent, and alongside that, create an offering to future proof our education industry.
10. The precinct of Cremorne provides a hotbed and confluence of these elements to create opportunity to prove this new education concept, develop a pilot and scale up.