Media releases

Federation University Australia has collaborated with leading technology and finance organisations to deliver a Master of Applied Cyber Security program that will offer prospective students an elite mentorship program that is the first of its kind in Australia.

This innovative program was co-developed with industry and has the support of key business collaborators Amazon Web Services (AWS) and IBM.

AWS will support students by providing the cloud computing platform that will deliver course materials, while IBM will offer each student a paid internship at one of its Australian locations, allowing students to hone their skills working on innovative, real-world projects.

Federation has also secured mentors from a host of leading corporations including Deloitte and KPMG, and BHP that will support students during their study.

This mentorship program is unique for Australia, with each student receiving personalised one-to-one expert mentorship from industry collaborators for the duration of their course. This mentorship gives students the advantage of expert mentorship throughout their whole study journey and enables students to forge industry contacts that will help boost their future employment opportunities.

The Master of Applied Cyber Security joins the pilot undergraduate courses that Federation has launched this year that adopt the co-operative education model – in which courses are co-designed, co-developed, and co-delivered with industry – in Information Technology, Business and Visual Arts.

Federation is extending this co-op model so that workplace learning will be embedded across all its programs by 2025, helping deliver a pipeline of highly skilled graduates to industry, while also granting its students with a head-start on their journey towards a successful career.

The new Master of Applied Cyber Security will be offered at Federation’s Ballarat, Berwick and Brisbane campuses and was launched at this year’s Malware Reversal Engineering (MRE2023) conference in Melbourne. Federation has hosted this annual event since 2013 that brings together industry, law enforcement and academia and focuses on research and developments in malware reversing.
 

Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley

“I am excited that Federation University is launching this new Master of Applied Cyber Security that has been co-developed, and will be co-delivered, with our industry partners. This course offers postgraduate IT students with the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge with the backing of some of the leading technology providers like Amazon Web Services and IBM, while receiving ongoing, expert mentorship from leading professionals in the field of cyber security.”

“The mentorship component of this course makes it unique in Australia and will give graduating students a significant head-start on their way to a successful career. The overwhelming support we have received from our collaborating organisations in launching this course is proof that Federation’s co-operative education model delivers numerous benefits for businesses, not just students.”

Quotes attributable to AWS: Simon Elisha, Chief Technologist for Public Sector in Australia and New Zealand at Amazon Web Services Australia Pty Ltd

“AWS is passionate about continual education, and the need to build new skills to drive economic growth and job creation. Recent research commissioned by AWS, and conducted by Gallup, “Australia Digital Skills Study: The Economic Benefits of a Tech-Savvy Workforce” found that demand for workers with advanced digital skills will remain strong in the coming years. To ensure that industry can meet this demand, we need to develop a culture of lifelong learning – from school to the workforce - to skill Australia at scale and nurture a digitally-skilled talent pool for the future.”  

“Security is a top priority for AWS and we’re committed to training skilled talent in this field. Our collaboration with Federation University Australia on this Master of Applied Cyber Security program is an excellent example of how industry and education have come together to build student skills, and prepare them for successful careers in cyber security.”

Quotes attributable to IBM, Partner, Security Services, Consulting and Systems, Katherine Robins

“IBM is proud to partner with Federation University Australia on this exciting new Master of Applied Cyber Security program. With our longstanding presence on campus, we look forward to providing students with the opportunity to gain practical experience and skills while studying.”