Flinders University will be the official partner of the Tonsley Technical College in a collaborative partnership that focuses on innovation.
The Tonsley Technical College will be built in tandem with Flinders University’s Factory of the Future with the project set to open by 2025.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling says co-location of the Factory of the Future facility with the Tonsley Technical College will place South Australia at the global forefront of developing vibrant industry linked research, education and training facilities.
‘The first of its kind in Australia, Flinders University’s Factory of the Future is a world-class, advanced manufacturing test bed, bringing together industry, education and research to develop vital sovereign capabilities in key sectors including defence and advanced manufacturing.
‘As Flinders continues to ramp-up our contributions towards the state’s future workforce requirements in key programs – including future frigates and nuclear submarines – the co-location of the state government’s Technical College with the Factory of the Future will create an exciting environment that showcases to future students the opportunities created for them by these nation-building programs,’ Professor Stirling says.
Australian Science and Mathematics School at Flinders University will be the partner school and provide a key pathway to employment for students to complete their SACE while developing vital workplace skills at Tonsley Technical College.
Deputy Premier Susan Close says it will provide senior secondary students with visibility on a day-to-day basis of a wide range of rewarding employment opportunities available in sectors of great strategic importance to the South Australia.
‘Partnering with Flinders University and the Factory of the Future provides students with a unique and specialised experience.
‘It will allow them to be involved in industry innovation, learn about the jobs of the future, as well as train for the jobs that are available when they leave school,’ she says.
Education Minister Blair Boyer says the Malinauskas Labor Government has committed $208 million to build five technical colleges – three in metropolitan Adelaide and two in regional South Australia – to provide an alternative senior secondary option that equips students with the workplace skills needed in areas of high demand.
‘As each of these important technical colleges takes shape, we are creating carefully tailored links between education, business and industry to strengthen student pathways from school to employment,’ Minister Boyer says.
‘The technical colleges will provide an alternative senior secondary option, equipping school students with workplace skills and providing a pipeline of workers in industry sectors where there is highest demand.’