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Inspiring the next generation of tech graduates

The Next Generation Graduates Program is a cohort-based, industry driven, multi-disciplinary graduate training program that aims to equip students with entrepreneurial thinking and skill sets that are key to boost breakthrough innovation in the exciting fields of AI and other emerging technologies.

We train students to be prepared for the problem-based environments they will face upon entering their respective fields. They will engage with a distinguished national cohort of peers from diverse disciplines and locations, fostering a rich and dynamic learning experience.

[Music plays and a split circle appears and photos of different CSIRO activities flash through in either side of the circle and then the circle morphs into the CSIRO logo]

[Images move through to show three males looking at a laptop together, a close profile view of one of the males, a female researcher at work, and then two researchers working together on equipment]

[Image changes to show Jess Cornock talking to the camera, and text appears: Jess Cornock, Manager, Next Generation Graduates Programme, CSIRO’s Data61]

Jess Cornock: The Next Generation Graduates Programme is a really exciting initiative that was funded by the Australian Government looking to recruit the next generation of technology graduates in Australia.

[Image changes to show a close view of Jess talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a male walking up some stairs and shaking hands with Dr Patanamon Thongtanunam]

We offer a range of opportunities for students from a really diverse lot of backgrounds to come and take part in our programme.

[Image changes to show Dr Patanamon Thongtanunam talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show Patanamon talking to a male and female, and text appears: Dr Patanamon Thongtanunam, Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering, The University of Melbourne]

Dr Patanamon Thongtanunam: The most important thing is we want the passionate students who are really keen to learn because this programme it involve both technical and non-technical and is also interdisciplinary.

[Image changes to show a close side view of a female and Patanamon smiling and laughing together]

So, the student have to be very keen to learn and passionate about doing this research. That’s the most important thing, yeah.

[Image changes to show Prof Peter Turner talking to the camera, and text appears: Professor Peter Turner, CEO, Sydney Quantum Academy, Honorary Professor, Macquarie University]

Prof Peter Turner: You can come with a computer science background, a physics background, an engineering background, a mathematics background, chemistry and simulations, anywhere where these applications might be, even finance and optimisation, these kinds of things.

[Images move through to show Jess talking to the camera, a male working on a computer, a close view of a person touching a Smartwatch, a female using an FPV, and a harvester]

Jess Cornock: We have programmes from AI mental health, AI in social disadvantage, quantum technologies, IOT, blockchain, cyber security, AI for agriculture.

[Image changes to show Jess talking to the camera]

We really believe that diversity drives innovation and innovation won’t happen without diversity of thought.

[Image changes to show Prof Sally Cripps talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a group of people talking and the camera pans around the group one at a time]

Prof Sally Cripps: We have 16 projects in the Thrive Programme and they span the gamut right from very qualitative research right through to quantitative research.

[Image changes to show Sally talking to the camera, and text appears: Professor Sally Cripps, Director of Technology, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney]

And where the student chooses to sit on that spectrum is going to be largely dependent on the student’s appetite. We just ask that the students are keen, that they’re open minded, and that we will provide the training both in the qualitative and the quantitative in order to make them successful in the programme.

[Image changes to show Jess talking to the camera]

Jess Cornock: Every NextGen programme will have an industry partner as part of it which will really allow our students the opportunity to work on problems that are real world problems and have the opportunity for real impact and contribution to Australia and globally as well.

[Images move through to show a rear view of Dr Aaron Belbasis walking into a room, Aaron talking to a female, and Aaron talking to the camera, and text appears: Dr Aaron Belbasis, Applied Leader, Aurecon]

Dr Aaron Belbasis: So, one of the exciting things about doing research with industry is the range of multidisciplinary engineers, researchers, advisors you’ll come across, and it allows you further scope out which direction your research path will go. Sometimes that stays in academia. Other times that will move into industry and give a clear direction of where you will have impact through the skill set that you have been developing and the career that you would like to forge.

[Image changes to show Jess talking to the camera]

Jess Cornock: The Data61 NextGen team is acting as a convenor for students to come in, learn the foundational skills that they might need and they may not have learnt in some of their undergraduate programmes, to be able to take that into their projects going forward. We will do foundational skills in programming, some data analytics skills, but also really importantly we’re going to build entrepreneurial and ethical frameworks for the students to take to the projects going forward.

[Image changes to show Associate Professor Rashina Hoda talking to the camera, and text appears: Associate Professor Rashina Hoda, Software Engineering Group Lead, Monash University]

Assoc Prof Rashina Hoda: For the longest while we have not had issues with producing technically excellent students. That is a given world over that is happening across universities, but what may not be happening as much is to produce responsibly technical students.

[Image changes to show a close view of Rashina talking to the camera]

So, it’s not something that we’re going to consider as an afterthought, it’s going to be something that we’re going to design into the system.

[Images move through to show two females meeting each other, the two females looking at a whiteboard together, and then Professor Marie Yap talking to the camera]

Prof Marie Yap: Digital technologies are progressing at such a rapid pace today and it’s impossible for us to even envisage what things will be like in this space in five, ten years’ time.

[Camera zooms out a little on Marie talking, and text appears: Professor Marie Yap, School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health Monash University]

So as students in this Next Generation Programme you will have the opportunity to really shape the digital technologies and how they impact and influence.

[Image changes to show Jess talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show three students working on a project together]

Jess Cornock: The NextGen Programme really just wants students from all walks of life to come and join our programme.

[Image changes to show a female researcher at work]

We have very generous scholarships. We also have generous allowances and we really want to make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to take part.

[Image changes to show Jess talking to the camera]

If you’re interested, if something catches your eye, get in contact with our team and we will help you find a way to take part in this programme.

[Music plays and the image changes to show the CSIRO logo and text appears: CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency]

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Addressing Australia's skills shortage in technologies

CSIRO have estimated that Australian industry will need up to 161,000 new AI and emerging technology savvy workers by 2030.

The Australian Government has identified a list of technologies that are critical to the national interest including AI, cyber security, quantum technology, blockchain and advanced robotics, and has acknowledged a shortage of tech workers.

By providing in-depth training and facilitating collaboration among students, researchers, and industry professionals, our program helps build a competitive and capable workforce that will drive the growth of the Australian tech sector.

We help turn great ideas into innovation

Our program provides Honours and postgraduate students from any project background, the unique opportunity to collaborate with universities, industry specialists and CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, to solve the world’s greatest problems.

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