Quarter of a century for tech first learning

CELEBRATING a twenty-five-year long partnership, IBM Ballarat and Federation University have grown together.

With plans in the pipeline to further expand, the University’s Technology Park supported by IBM is home to more than 2200 employees and 62 enterprises, generating $6 million in turnover.

Over time, while offering practical experience, the IBM and Federation University partnership has overseen numerous research projects to solve real-world challenges, like the Qantas self-check-in kiosks, which were designed and built at IBM Ballarat.

Federation University vice-chancellor and president Professor Duncan Bentley said this unique partnership epitomises what industry and university partnerships are all about.

“Our collaboration with IBM has seen more than 300 of 400 graduates of IT courses run by the University going on to work with IBM with many former students still employed there today,” he said.

“Our technology park is the largest university technology park in the country and has had IBM as an anchor tenant since in 1999.

“The university would work with IBM to provide the skillset needed in the region … which is the genesis of a highly effective partnership.”

Established with the aim for both entities to meet a demand for more skilled workers in the technology sector, Mr Bently said IBM and Federation University’s work together has been vital to the field.

“Areas that we are exploring are things like high end research and the internet,” he said.

“Things like the use of artificial intelligence and big data which is going to underpin everything that our society does and are fuelled by our ability to have well above world class research.

“To have the capacity to work with IBM research and development and other universities in this space means that it will have more flow down back to Ballarat and our region and we will be able to attract even more skills and businesses in the space.”

In addition, IBM and Federation University also run a P-TECH program at the Ballarat Technology Park to with the aim of familiarising high school students with digital technology practices.

“The P-TECH program has been making sure that we really build access for diverse groups, those who wouldn’t normally necessarily get into a program like this,” Mr Bentley said.

The IBM/Federation University 25-year partnership contributed $629 million in economic value to the Victorian economy between 2018-2019, according to a Western Research Institute report.

The Research also showd the Ballarat Technology Park underpins 4435 jobs in the state, and during 2018-19, the Park was responsible for $381 million in household income in Victoria.

Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford said it’s wonderful to see how the Ballarat Technology Park has evolved and how it continues to drive the state’s innovation.

“Innovative and collaborative partnerships like this one are central to ensuring Victoria’s place in the global digital economy, generating high-skill, high-value jobs and growth for all Victorians,” she said.