09 July 2010
RMIT and Huawei deliver high-speed broadband training
Huawei Australia CEO, Guo Fulin, and Acting Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Daine Alcorn. Photo: Kit Haselden.
From left: Minister John Lenders, Mr Guo, Senator Stephen Conroy and Professor Alcorn. Photo: Kit Haselden.
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RMIT University will partner with Huawei Technologies, a global leader in networking and telecommunications products, to establish a high-speed broadband training centre.
The collaboration will establish the Next Generation Technology Training Centre to train 1,000 students nationally, including 500 in Victoria, over the next three years.
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, and Victorian Minister for Information and Communication Technology, John Lenders, joined RMIT Acting Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Daine Alcorn, and senior executives from Huawei at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding this week.
The MOU follows the recent announcement that Victoria will host 700 highly-skilled jobs created by the National Broadband Network.
Professor Alcorn said the partnership would provide industry standard technical training and develop a workforce capable of building and operating the NBN.
"RMIT’s collaboration with Huawei, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of telecommunications and networking equipment, will help fill one of Australia’s key skills gaps," Professor Alcorn said.
"Our academics will also have the opportunity to work with Huawei on a range of research initiatives.
"This MOU confirms RMIT’s standing as one the country’s leading universities of technology and we are excited to take on this crucial role in a major national project.
"This partnership furthers strengthens RMIT’s range of connections with government, industry and academia in China."
Huawei’s Chief Technology Officer, Peter Rossi, said the partnership would see classrooms equipped with the latest Huawei equipment and devices, with permanent Huawei staff dedicated to teaching students about the latest technology breakthroughs direct from the company’s research and development centres.
"The partnership between RMIT University and Huawei will help place Australia at the forefront of Next-Generation technology, applications and innovations," Mr Rossi said.
"This is especially timely given that the ICT industry is in need of a highly-skilled workforce to make full use of the National Broadband Network."
Mr Lenders said the training centre was testament to Victoria’s role as the technology hub of Australia.
"Securing the NBN in Melbourne sets up the next phase of Victoria’s economy - following Victoria’s historic agricultural, mining, manufacturing and services phases," he said.
"Thanks to the NBN, global technology giant Huawei will team up with RMIT University to start its collaborative Next Generation Technology Training Centre in Melbourne.
"This is great news for young Victorians looking for a rewarding career in a city with an exciting ICT future."
Senator Conroy welcomed the announcement and commended the crucial role the training centre would play in skilling Australia’s workforce for the roll-out of the NBN.
