Siemens will partner with the NSW state government to develop a vocational education and training (VET) hub in Western Sydney.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian on August 17 said the state was finalising a Memorandum of Understanding to bring advanced technologies and innovations in VET to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, the development surrounding the future Western Sydney Airport.
Berejiklian made the announcement ahead of a tour of a ‘Smart City’ project Siemens is developing in Berlin, where it is aiming to transform a 70 hectare industrial area into a modern, urban district with offices, residences, laboratories and production plants in place by 2030.
“The NSW Government is committed to building a supply of skilled labour to meet the jobs needs of the future,” Berejiklian said. “I’m excited to learn more about Germany’s dual system of on-the-job and classroom training and see how that works in practice for companies like Siemens.”
The state government noted Germany’s VET system provides trainees with high-level technical skills, making it especially effective at responding to changes in technology and the employment needs of business.
Siemens, an industrial manufacturer whose portfolio includes rail and signalling systems, is a major investor in VET, training around 8,000 apprentices and students in Germany each year.
NSW minister for jobs and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said a strong VET system will be essential for ensuring the success of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
“The key to ensuring that additional jobs created through the Aerotropolis are sustainable is to provide workers with the skills they need for future industries,” Ayres said.
“That’s why the NSW Government will establish a permanent VET facility in the Aerotropolis with a focus on advanced manufacturing, technology and engineering.”