Women in STEM scholarships for 2023 available now
Flinders University has announced more fully funded women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) scholarships for their award-winning Diploma of Digital Technologies. This is a valuable program for people wanting to gain new STEM and innovation skills.
This is part of the Australian Government’s Women in STEM Cadetships and Advanced Apprenticeships Program. This program aims to promote equality of opportunity in higher education, through increasing access to, and participation of, up to 600 employed women to study STEM. STEM skills are in high demand in defence industry and across all sectors. (Read more about why diversity is important in defence industry.)
Key dates and things to know
- A new student cohort starts in semester 1, March 2023.
- Apply below! (You’ve got nothing to lose by sending in an expression of interest.)
- At this stage, Flinders University is offering a stream for Educators and a stream for people from Industry.
** Exciting update: We are also exploring if there is interest in a cohort for the partners/spouses of current- and ex-serving Defence members. **
Express your interest in securing a scholarship to study
$3.4m boost for women’s digital tech training
Read the news article from Flinders University.
The workplace of the future is here and Flinders University’s Diploma of Digital Technologies is expanding with a further 120 places for women to gain practical high-tech digital skills …
Claire's experience as a student
Claire has posted a few snippets about her experience as a student with Flinders University.
Claire is pictured here with Andrew Marshall. Andrew is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Technologies and Deputy Program Manager of the Digital Diploma.
Read her LinkedIn Post here.
Read her Instagram Post here.
Eligibility
As this opportunity has Australian government funding behind it, there are a few eligibility requirements.
Applicants:
- must identify as female
- must be employed (part-time is ok, cannot be on government benefits)
- can’t be employed by a federally funded department.
You can talk to the people at Flinders if you have a question about this. (Send them an email.)
Read this blog post to learn more about women in STEM in Australia.
Women in STEM Scholarship: The Flinders University diploma course offers online and intensive workshops in topics covering cybersecurity, 3D printing, robotics and autonomous technologies, IoT and sensor-based systems, electronics, design and CAD, innovation and Industry 4.0. The course has been designed to provide graduates with and understanding of theory and practical skills.
What are the subjects?
Innovation and Industry 4.0
Innovation is needed to successfully introduce Industry 4.0 in the workplace. This topic introduces participants to innovative thinking, the process of innovation and the interplay with industry 4.0. Digital transformation has radically impacted on the way organisations innovate, the processes to manage such innovation, the changing capabilities, skills and structures needed to capitalise on opportunities, the partnerships needed, technologies to support the process, and policies to accelerate the diffusion of industry 4.0 in the transition to advanced manufacturing. Industry 4.0 is not just about technology. People are key. The successful application of industry 4.0 approaches in organisations is only possible if people use the technology and can innovate.
The topic focuses on understanding human and institutional factors in the introduction of new technologies such as industry 4.0, innovation, change management, trust in technology, industry 4.0 for supply chain competitiveness and the process of innovation in an organisation.
Cyber Security
The topic introduces participants to the fundamentals of cybersecurity and the drivers, tools and techniques for securing an organisations’ digital information assets. With a focus on securing connected organisations, the participants will study the principles, standards, processes and technologies associated with networked computer systems and data communications, and the cybersecurity associated with these. This will include network design and communication, Information structures and governance, cybersecurity awareness, vulnerabilities, threats, risk assessment, and legal and ethical issues.
Digital Design
Digital Engineering Design has been identified within the Defence and shipbuilding industries as a skill in demand. It incorporates design thinking as well as the concept of the digital twin. The digital twin will facilitate analytics, control and simulation. It can be used to monitor the supply or value chain and for predictive maintenance to simulate future states of equipment and respond to demand signals rather than waiting for failure triggered signals, thereby limiting waste and re-work. In terms of the naval shipbuilding industry, it will also result in sovereign capability building.
Cyber-physical systems, robotics and automation
This topic equips participants with the knowledge and skills to understand cyber- physical systems, robotics and automation. Technologies involved includes cobots, AGVs, automated goods receiving and storage and automation, industrial automation in an assembly line including automatic warehouse, inspection, classification and delivery.
Design for Manufacture
Design for manufacture and sustainment is of crucial importance in shipbuilding and defence. The topic explores CNC machines and CAM, through to rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing and 3D printing. It evaluates form, function and materials. It focuses on materials, processes, fabrication techniques, assembly, testing, design for failure, product standards and their role in design and engineering, procurement, maintenance and asset management.
Digital Electronics
The innovative design of the Diploma in Digital Technologies incorporates state of the art workshops to support a future-ready workforce to become agents of change for Industry 4.0. The topic will contribute to the course by supporting and furthering the development of students’ technical skills and knowledge to provide a strong foundation for workplace innovation.
Alternative topics Vocational Educational Training (VET) topics may be undertaken as alternatives, subject to adequate numbers of interested students.
More…
A bit more information about the Diploma course and the women in STEM scholarship opportunity.
- The course runs part-time over 2 years.
- Each year of the course has about 25 weeks of participation (with breaks between semesters).
- A typical week is 1-2 hours of lectures (all pre-recorded so can be watched any time).
- About 2 hours per week of live, online workshops (also recorded in case you miss any).
- Assessments: generally 3 items per Unit and 2 Units per semester. Assessments are a mix of group and individual projects.
- There are ~9 days of onsite Intensive Practicals over the Diploma. Dates are provided well in advance and usually all done during school holidays. There are catch up sessions and opportunity to do these remotely if required.
- No cost to the student OR school at any time.
- Program includes a small subsidy that can be used towards the final project to buy equipment / technology as required.
- Program counts towards a year of an Engineering Degree if you want to study further.
