Siemens wins training award for Industry 4.0 apprenticeships

Siemens has won the ‘2018 Apprenticeships – Employer Award’ for the Industry 4.0 Apprenticeship program at the 2018 National Australian Training Awards held in Sydney. The award was given in recognition of the first-of-its-kind digital apprenticeship, launched by Siemens in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology and the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), to train apprentices on digital skills needed in future.

Recognising individuals, employers and training providers demonstrating excellence in vocational education and training (VET), winners were awarded by Senator Michaelia Cash, Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education.

“This is an incredible honour and a privilege for Siemens,” said Siemens’ Australia CEO and Chairman, Jeff Connolly. “When we started the program two years ago, we had no clear job descriptions for the apprentices, but were determined to collaborate and equip them with the right digital skills for the future. While the awards are great recognition of our combined efforts, we’re particularly proud of giving the first batch of 20 apprentices pathways to work in Australia and globally. The outcomes are evident as we are already seeing real skills for real careers with this unique and innovative program.”

The program is unique in that it combines rotations of classroom-based theoretical learning at Swinburne University and then practical on-the-job application of learning to projects at Siemens. All apprentices were given exposure to digital technologies such as cybersecurity and cloud services, smart product design, predictive analysis, robotics and digital twin, augmented reality, advanced electrical machines and software tools for Industry 4.0. The apprentices are also among the first group of people to work on new global systems such as MindSphere, Siemens’ cloud platform for Industrial Internet of Things applications.

“We see Industry 4.0 as a framework for societal transformation,” added Connolly. “Given the rapid pace of change owing to technological disruption, the preparation for the future of work, skills and education cannot just be left to education institutions alone. Industry needs to collaborate with academia and governments to support this progress.”

This is the third award and fifth nomination for the apprenticeship program. The program is currently working with the second intake of apprentices.