Australia’s first degree-level apprenticeship has launched in Adelaide in an effort to close the skills gap in software engineering and open tech up to a more diverse range of people.

A collaboration between BAE Systems, Ai Group and the University of South Australia, the Software Engineering Apprenticeship will combine practical work experience with university study and aim to embed tech workers into the state’s defence sector.

Running for five years, the course will see graduates obtain a Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) along with five years of relevant work experience.

Throughout the course, 80 per cent of the time will be spent at work, while 20 per cent will be at university.

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said similar degree apprenticeships have been “highly successful” overseas, particularly in Europe.

“They combine on-the-job experience through working with an employer over a set number of years in their chosen field with the technical skills an apprentice learns while studying the degree at university,” Willox said.

“This is the perfect way to commence a professional career.

“For employers, the benefit of the program is to gain early access to good candidates; to shape their university training to their own workplace; and when they finish their degree to have skilled and experienced workers who can fit seamlessly into their organisation as professionals and future leaders.”

The new course will help produce job-ready graduates with proven experience, University of South Australia vice-chancellor Professor David Lloyd said.

“The apprenticeship is designed to embed software engineering students into SA’s defence sector one day,” Lloyd said.

“By learning – and earning – on the job and integrating university study into their week, they will be able to hit the ground running when they graduate, equipped with the right skills.

“The degree apprenticeship is a natural fit for our university, ensuring we produce highly skilled graduates for the state’s growing defence sector.”

It will also help open the tech sector up to a more diverse range of people, particularly those who may be unable to study full-time without earning any income.

“Another benefit is that earn and learn programs like this will appeal to a bigger and more diverse pool of students by opening the profession up to people who may have the capability, but not necessarily the means or the interest to study full-time while not earning an income,” Willox said.

“In this way the program will potentially increase the number of future software engineers.”

The Ai Group, BAE Systems and the University of South Adelaide consulted with other companies and employers to develop what will be involved in the course, which is recognised by the South Australian Skills Commission.

Calls for more government action

In contrast to other arrangements such as internships, work placements and scholarships, the degree apprenticeship will involve a formal training contract, will be regulated by the state government and the apprentice will be paid to attend university.

“Ai Group congratulates the South Australian government and Premier Peter Malinauskas and the South Australian Skills Commission for their support and for being the first state in Australia to make this possible,” Willox said.

“We are encouraging other states to follow suit.

“We are also urging the Australian government to help facilitate these programs by looking at barriers such as fringe benefit tax obligations when employers contribute to the cost of the apprentice’s student contribution, or expanding apprentice incentive eligibility to higher education qualifications to encourage more employers to get involved.”

The federal government announced in September last year that new “higher apprenticeships” would be offered for tech skills, with $10 million in funding as part of the first Employment White Paper.

New TAFE Centres of Excellence will also be stumped up to “turbocharge” the education and training sector, thanks to a $31 million cash boost.