Industry and community partnerships

The foundational level focuses on building awareness and fostering initial connections. It's the ideal starting point for organisations to get to know the University's talent and capabilities, and build relationships with minimal commitment. Partners gain direct access to a pipeline of emerging ICT talent and gain fresh perspectives from the next generation of tech professionals.

This is a low-level partner commitment, with minimal time obligations and financial commitments.

Key partnership opportunities:

• Attend the ICT capstone expo: A showcase where final-year students present projects developed for real-world clients. This is an excellent opportunity to see the quality of student work and identify emerging talent.
• Deliver a guest lecture: Share industry insights and real-world experience with students in a classroom setting.
• Provide a ‘problem pitch’: Offer a small, well-defined problem for students to tackle in a tutorial or workshop, providing a taste of your organisation's challenges.
• Judge a student competition: Participate as a judge or mentor in a school-run hackathon or competition.
• Attend a professional short course: Participate in one of the school's research-led short courses on emerging technologies to upskill your team and evaluate the school's expertise.

The co-create and develop partnership focuses on project-based collaboration where partners can access the University's resources to develop tangible solutions while providing invaluable real-world learning experiences for students. Partners have the option to collaborate on defined projects that deliver joint outcomes and core Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences for students.

This is a medium-level partner commitment that involves providing a clear project brief and a dedicated contact person to act as a mentor, meeting regularly with the student team over one or two semesters. Financial commitment may be required for custom courses.

Key partnership opportunities:

• Sponsor an ICT capstone project: Act as the ‘client’ for a team of final-year students who will work over a semester to develop a prototype, app, or digital solution for your organisation. This is the school's primary WIL activity.
• Offer student internships: Host a student for a structured placement, allowing them to apply their skills in your professional environment.
• Participate in curriculum co-design: Engage in workshops to provide feedback on course content, ensuring the curriculum aligns with current and future industry needs.
• Join our industry mentor program: Provide formal recognition and networking opportunities for your staff who guide our students.
• Commission a custom short course: Fund the development of a bespoke professional development course tailored to your organisation's specific technological needs, co-designed with the school's academic experts.

The co-invest and innovate partnership marks a shift towards deeper, research-focused collaboration. It involves joint investment in creating new knowledge and developing the highly specialised talent needed to solve more complex challenges. Partners jointly fund and guide targeted research and development that addresses significant industry challenges and builds Tasmania's ICT capability.

This is a high level of partner commitment, involving financial co-investment (e.g., for scholarships or grant matching) and the commitment of time and expertise for co-supervision and collaboration.

Key partnership opportunities:

• Co-fund a higher degree by research (HDR) scholarship: Partner with the school to fund a PhD student to conduct a multi-year research project on a topic of direct relevance to your organisation. This is a key strategic priority for the University.
• Commission contract research: Engage academic experts for a specific, scoped research and development project or consultancy.
• Partner on a grant application: Collaborate on grant proposals, such as the ARC Linkage Program, by providing the necessary industry co-investment and support. The school's strategy prioritises these larger, programmatic grants.

The highest level of engagement involves forming a long-term, multi-faceted alliance that shapes the strategic direction of research, talent development, and innovation within the Tasmanian ICT ecosystem. These partnerships are built on a shared vision to drive systemic innovation and position Tasmania as a national leader in place-based ICT research.

Partners gain a unique commercial advantage by using the ‘Tasmanian living lab’ as a strategic, de-risked 'living laboratory' to validate and showcase new technologies, while influencing the future direction of ICT in Tasmania and co-creating a tailored talent pipeline.

This is a deep level of partner commitment requiring a significant, multi-year strategic and financial commitment, including executive-level involvement.

Key partnership opportunities:

• Join the industry advisory board: Provide high-level strategic guidance on the school's research flagships (AI and emerging technologies, creative technologies, ICT and people) and curriculum direction.
• Become a ‘Tasmanian living lab’ foundation partner: Co-invest in and co-design a large-scale, multi-year ‘whole-of-school' integrated research program that leverages the state as a living laboratory to develop and trial new technologies.
• Nominate key leaders for adjunct or honorary fellow appointments: Recognise the contribution of your senior staff and deepen their formal connection with the university.
• Pursue a cooperative research centre (CRC) bid: Collaborate as a key industry partner in a major, multi-institutional bid for a national research centre headquartered in Tasmania.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work. Whether you're just getting started or already experimenting with AI tools, you'll need more than technical skills to use them well. You'll need the confidence to ask the right questions, evaluate AI outputs, understand the risks, and apply AI responsibly in your workplace.

Navigate AI Essentials: Responsible Use in Practice is a practical, evidence-based short course developed by the University of Tasmania's Information and Communications Technology area. Rather than focusing on a single AI tool, students build the knowledge, judgement and practical skills to confidently navigate today's rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Our industry-focused Undergraduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technology is an industry-focused course that supports those who wish to develop their ICT knowledge and skills in pursuit of entry-level positions in ICT.

The certificate has been designed to offer a flexible study model which supports you in gaining relevant, up-to-date skills that differentiate you and increase your employability.

Study without tuition fees

Domestic students commencing in 2026 are eligible to receive a 100% HECS fee scholarship. The HECS fee scholarship will be automatically applied on enrolment. Visit the course page for details.

The Diploma of Information and Communication Technology equips students with a broad range of professional skills in key ICT areas, providing both a theoretical and practical focus.

Led by expert staff who deliver distinctive, rewarding, and place-based learning experiences, the teaching environment aims to provide a student-centred university experience, enabling you to realise your individual career goals.

The Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology builds a strong foundation in both the theoretical principles and the practical, hands‑on skills required in today’s ICT landscape. Students build capability across programming, networking, cybersecurity, and database systems, while also developing essential business, communication, and project management skills.