South Australian Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship

The Ai Group Centre for Education and Training is partnering with industry and the University of South Australia to create a degree apprenticeship in software engineering. This new program will enable a person to complete an accredited Bachelor of Software Engineering while employed as an apprentice with participating companies.

The degree apprenticeship is expected to take 5 years to complete. During that time the apprentice will be employed on a full-time basis to attend university and work on related tasks. Some of the formal study will also be undertaken in the workplace.

Apprentices will be paid while undertaking the program and the cost of attending university will be supported by their employer.

There is currently a shortage of software engineers in South Australia, and this shortage is expected to grow as the state continues to develop its Defence-related manufacturing. Some of the participating companies operate in the Defence sector.

This pilot program will offer the opportunity to get into the profession without any prior qualification and enable people to earn while they learn. Graduates will gain the same qualification as if they had enrolled at university as a full-time student, but will also gain years of valuable work experience while undertaking the program.

The program is commencing the first intakes of apprentices for the start of the 2024 academic year. Applications for this intake are now closed. The next intake is expected to commence early in 2025.

Pre-Requisites

To be eligible to join this program you must be:

• An Australian citizen and based in South Australia.
• Have completed SACE (entry is based on university entrance requirements which will be determined at the time of application).
• Employed by a business that meets the criteria required by the apprenticeship regulations.

For Candidates

Commence an apprenticeship combined with advanced education studies to achieve an outcome that would otherwise take four years without any employment included..

Benefits:

• Earn while you learn, be paid to study and achieve your goals.
• Gain valuable practical experience while applying your knowledge in the workplace.
• Obtain the Bachelor of Software Engineering, accredited by the Australian Computer Society.
• Receive support from your employer to meet the cost of university training.

For Employers

Employ an apprentice within the known apprenticeship framework but reap the benefits of the practical skills combined with advanced knowledge.

Benefits:

• Create a pipeline of talent for your business.
• Gain early access to talented people who will develop their craft by working alongside and learning from your own team.
• Open up your access to professional staff beyond standard recruitment programs. Degree apprenticeship programs in other countries have demonstrated a wider demographic of people apply for these positions than through graduate or internship programs.

Register your interest below

For further enquiries about this program, contact Peter Canavan at peter.canavan@aigroup.com.au