New partnership a major boost for Western Sydney region’s entrepreneurial potential
From left to right: Khal Asfour, Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown, Professor Attila Brungs, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Technology Sydney, Professor Barney Glover AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, Western Sydney University, Professor Deborah Sweeney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice President (Research & Innovation), Western Sydney University
A new partnership between Western Sydney University and University of Technology Sydney will see the two universities collaborate on postgraduate teaching opportunities, research and entrepreneurial activities to help transform the fast-growing Western Sydney region.
Local communities, industry and business are set to benefit from the agreement, which will see the two universities’ business incubator programs co-locate at the Western Sydney University’s planned Bankstown CBD campus – helping unlock the potential for large scale start-up activity in the region and enhance its Industry 4.0 collaboration and digital transformation.
Other opportunities include delivering postgraduate courses and micro-credentials for those working in start-ups and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in areas such as entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialisation, and working with government at all levels to maximise the region’s education and employment opportunities.
Artist impression of the Bankstown CBD campus.
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions, Vice-Chancellors Professor Barney Glover AO and Professor Attila Brungs said that university partnerships are vital if governments are to deliver on their ambitious targets for thousands more new-knowledge jobs for the people of Western Sydney.
“Over the next 20 years, Western Sydney is set to grow by another million people, contributing more than half of Sydney’s overall expected population growth. It is also the centre for some of the most transformational infrastructure projects in our nation’s history – most notably, the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the Aerotropolis,” said Professor Glover.
“We are very pleased to partner with UTS and harness our universities’ collective expertise, particularly in business incubation, to realise the exciting potential of the region – driving more high-tech innovation and investment, and creating the high-value jobs that are so essential for the region’s and nation’s productivity.”
Professor Brungs said providing highly-accessible short courses and more postgraduate opportunities for those working in the start-up sector, and collaborating with local business and industry on world-class, translational research are critical elements of the agreement.
“Importantly, our partnership with Western Sydney University strongly aligns with the Australian Government’s ‘Smart City’ objectives – transforming the region’s central business districts into vibrant hubs for employment, creative, entrepreneurial activity and industry engagement,” Professor Brungs said.
ENDS
20 December 2019
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