In an effort to support Australia’s growing space, defence and national security capabilities, Nova Systems and the University of South Australia (UniSA), have committed to explore opportunities for collaboration.
Nova Group CEO Jim McDowell and UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this week in a commitment to working closely over the next five years in industries critical to the state’s economy.
The MoU is focused on growing the future pipeline of engineers and conducting industry and academic exchanges in emerging technology areas, with a particular emphasis on defence, national security and space.
It will see the organisations collaborate in a range of areas, including: staff and student placement opportunities including options to grow Nova’s award-winning Graduate Program; collaboration in research development and technology focused on defence, national security and space; and joint development of training, education and short courses in support of defence, national security, and space industrial capability.
“We are invested in working closely with academia to grow and sustain local smarts to solve complex challenges and keep our world safe and secure,” McDowell said. “This initiative will provide more opportunities for young Australians to gain industry insight, while at the same time studying at university, furthering the Australian Government’s efforts to create and sustain a local workforce of the future.
“By exchanging ideas and sharing best practice, students will gain new ideas about how to convert their learnings into practical solutions to support future capability requirements in the defence, national security and space domains.”
Collaboration in developing external short courses which support developing industrial capabilities will also be explored, including leveraging Nova’s established training in core capabilities.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said the MOU would enable collaboration on world-class research and the provision of employment opportunities for graduates.
“The defence industry is a critical part of the SA economy – it’s essential that, as a university, we work closely with industry to educate a local, high-tech defence workforce for the future,” Professor Lloyd said.