Late in 2022, a collaborative project in Shepparton, Victoria to build advanced technology skills, finished and delivered results for all involved. Cantech Engineering, a local engineering company, worked with the Shepparton Industry Training Hub’s project ‘Bridging the industry 4.0 skills gap: building advanced technology skills’ along with Skills Lab and Kyabram P-12 College.
Cantech produces equipment and machinery for the food and manufacturing industries and provides CAD design & project management. The last session the students completed in the advanced technology skills initiative involved a site tour to Cantech. They met the design engineers and learnt about current projects and work across 3D modelling and design. This gave students a real-world learning experience and application of their recently acquired skills, including recognising materials used in engineering, producing components using CAD and CAM technologies for manufacturing processes, producing engineering-related technical documentation and participating in project lifecycle management processes.
The program, a new pilot initiative, was co designed and co-developed by Industry Training Hub – Shepparton, Skills Lab RTO code: 45486 and Kyabram P-12 College. There were great synergies between all three parties. Kyabram P-12 College was focused on innovation, strengthening industry connections, and improving practices across VET disciplines. Skills Lab is a leading Industry 4.0 training provider, and the Industry Training Hubs have a key function to develop new education and training pathways in areas of local skills needs and facilitate access for students.
The first phase of the project involved building capacity for school staff and VET teachers/trainers to improve teaching practices across hi-tech, highly skilled 3D training delivery within VET disciplines to further enhance and link CAD with Engineering/Building VET disciplines.
The second phase involved students commencing stackable microcredentials from the Digital Engineering Higher Apprenticeship, based on the nationally accredited course Diploma of Applied Technologies (leading industry 4.0 training). The 3D Design and Manufacture microcredentials were developed with industry in mind, ensuring that the units met industry-specific needs and reflected in-demand skills that apply to emerging roles.
The training was intended to expose and educate young people around Industry 4.0 and the emergence of digital technologies in the Manufacturing and Engineering sectors. Students attended live, facilitated training connecting remotely to the Skills Lab training laboratories to complete units that focused on CAD and CAM technologies for manufacturing processes.
As well as developing the skills and knowledge required to teach 3D CAD and CAM, teachers said they gained a greater understanding of the emerging workforce needs and requirements. This will be used as the ‘springboard’ to offer a comparable unit to VET Engineering students in the future. This greatly upskills the offerings and opens up new opportunities for both current and future students.
The students praised the practical experiences and exposure, and said they learnt something that interested them and were exposed to diverse experiences.
