A major philanthropic partnership will provide an opportunity to create digital learning labs and school-based programs focused on emerging technology.
According to a recent press release, the Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley welcomed a A$ 650,000 philanthropic contribution that will benefit the students across Victoria, Australia.
Digital labs and workshops
The digital labs and workshops at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image’s (ACMI) Federation Square site will feature cutting-edge technology, promote media and screen literacy, and will be named after the philanthropic group.
Staffed by creative industry experts, the labs will give students and teachers world-class learning environments and access to resources not available in most classrooms.
ACMI estimates the partnership will help double student visitation to its Federation Square site over the next three years, to 140,000 students annually.
Moreover, the partnership will see ACMI use its industry expertise to support tech schools in regional Victoria over the next three years.
Regional support
The Minister shared that not only will this partnership support education in Melbourne, it will extend ACMI’s reach into regional areas, ensuring more students get a world-class education regardless of their location.
It will have a program focused on building skills in entrepreneurship, digital game design and emerging jobs and technologies.
The ACMI Tech School program will commence this year at Geelong Tech School with more schools to follow.
Minister for Education James Merlino said that this will be a major asset for Victorian students. It is a great example of the educational connection between artistic creativity and cutting-edge technology.
The donation of the philanthropic group is part of the Centre’s redevelopment project, the ACMI Re/new, which will begin on the 24 May 2019 and complements the Victorian Government’s A$ 36.6 million investment in the project.
Innovative training projects
In other news, the Victorian Government announced a A$ 2.4 million funding boost for innovative training projects that will train the next generation of workers across Melbourne.
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney joined Member for Eltham Vicki Ward at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Greensborough campus to announce the major investment and meet with students enrolled in Free TAFE courses.
They announced three grants from the Workplace Training Innovation Fund towards projects that will expand and strengthen Melbourne Polytechnic’s partnerships with industry.
These courses have been developed to respond to industry needs and students undertaking these courses will have the skills they need to begin careers in industries where there are plenty of jobs.
The Minister said that these projects are yet another example of the work being done to develop cutting-edge training solutions to meet the needs of students and industry.
Three Grants
The boost includes more than A$ 888,000 to establish the North West Melbourne Data Analytics Hub with North Link, which will focus on manufacturing and health.
The project will deliver 105 business training events to 1350 businesses and individuals over two years.
In addition, almost A$ 900,000 has been provided to develop new Certificate III and IV courses in design and architectural glass.
Thirdly, more than A$ 660,000 will enable trainers, students, businesses and their employees to better engage Chinese customers in retail, tourism and hospitality.
Meanwhile, Member for Eltham Vicki Ward shared that since reopening in 2017, Melbourne Polytechnic’s Greensborough campus has become a vibrant education hub, giving people in Melbourne’s north-east the opportunity to get the skills they need for the jobs they want.
Free TAFE will help local job seekers find ongoing work and provide a steady stream of workers for industries with skills shortages.