Degree apprenticeships at Flinders represent a fundamental shift in how universities respond to industry demand, skills shortages and the pace of technological change. By allowing students to earn a salary while completing a fully accredited university degree, these programs are creating a new pipeline of job-ready graduates in sectors critical to South Australia’s economic future.
“Degree apprenticeships are an example of the way universities are evolving to meet the changing needs of the communities and industries we serve,” says Romy Lawson, senior deputy vice-chancellor at Flinders University. “We’re preparing students for jobs that didn’t even exist a decade ago.”
From classroom to worksite – and back again
Flinders launched its first degree apprenticeship in mechanical engineering in 2025, responding directly to workforce shortages across advanced manufacturing, defence, renewables and infrastructure. The program combines structured university study with immersive, paid workplace experience, allowing students to apply theory in real time.
The inaugural intake saw nine apprentices placed with defence company ASC, supported by the Australian and South Australian governments. Within months, those students were contributing meaningfully to their teams – a result Lawson says reflects the strength of industry co-design.
The model has proven so successful that placements are expanding in 2026, with 17 mechanical engineering apprenticeship positions and six new places in electrical and electronic engineering across defence and construction employers.
“We’ve co-designed and co-delivered courses with industry to ensure students graduate career ready,” she says. “It’s part of our commitment to national priorities such as advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding.”
For students like Emilia, now a first-year mechanical engineering apprentice at ASC, the hands-on nature of the program has been transformative.
“This apprenticeship gives you so much exposure to real practices,” she says. “I get to go down to the workshop, see what I’m actually working on and then work on it. I wasn’t expecting it to be so hands-on.”
Equally important is the drive that comes with contributing to nationally significant projects.
“Knowing you’re contributing to something bigger on a national level really does give you a deeper sense of purpose,” Emilia says.
Engineering the future workforce
While mechanical engineering was the starting point, Flinders’ ambition for degree apprenticeships extends well beyond a single discipline.
A new Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree Apprenticeship will equip students with the skills to design, build and maintain the systems that power modern life – from defence technologies and renewable energy networks to intelligent transport and smart infrastructure.
A Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship is also scheduled to commence in 2027, supported by the River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Alliance, ensuring apprentices can gain experience on major construction projects as South Australia’s infrastructure pipeline grows.
“South Australia is a leader in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, automation and innovative health care, and is uniquely positioned to support national defence priorities,” Lawson says.
“A degree apprenticeship drives skill development in the state’s most in-demand fields by allowing students to work in the industry alongside professionals. Students undertake paid apprenticeships with global companies while still studying their university degree.”
Graduates complete a full Washington Accord-accredited honours degree, enabling them to work anywhere in the world – while also graduating with up to five years of paid industry experience.
Flinders is now looking to expand this successful apprenticeship model to other disciplines over the next year.
Opening doors earlier – and wider
Degree apprenticeships are open to school leavers and mature-age students, with entry requirements aligned to standard engineering degrees, including mathematics prerequisites. Apprentices are employed through competitive recruitment processes with industry partners, ensuring placements are purposeful and valued.
Crucially, Flinders is also reshaping pathways into higher education through partnerships with South Australia’s new technical colleges.
Students enrolled at Findon Technical College – with Tonsley and The Heights opening this year – can begin degree apprenticeship pathways while still in Year 12. Through this nation-leading initiative, students complete their first year of a Flinders degree alongside their SACE, fast-tracking their transition into high-skill careers.
To qualify, students complete SACE requirements in Year 11 at a technical college, alongside a university preparatory program. They then enter Year 12 with a guaranteed university place.
“This partnership focuses on building a specialised workforce to support the economic future of the state,” Lawson says. “It also opens doors for young people who might not otherwise see university as an option.”
Industry partnerships that go beyond placement
ASC is Flinders’ lead degree apprenticeship partner, with others including BAE Systems, REDARC and the Torrens to Darlington Alliance. These employers provide on-the-job training under experienced supervisors, ensuring apprentices gain real responsibility – not just observation.
Flinders’ long history of defence collaboration has positioned it as a trusted partner, particularly as Australia scales up its sovereign defence capabilities.
“Following the success of our industry partnerships, we are scaling up our efforts in training a suitably skilled pipeline of workers in support of the AUKUS submarine program and growing sovereign defence capabilities,” Lawson says.
“The ongoing launch of our degree apprenticeship curriculum reflect the success of Flinders’ collaborative approach with our industry partners.”
Beyond apprenticeships: research embedded in industry
Flinders’ approach to workforce development doesn’t stop at undergraduate education. The university is also a national leader in industry-embedded PhDs, with more than 100 industry-engaged doctoral projects across sectors including biotech, defence, sustainability and social impact.
Industry PhD candidates work directly with organisations to tackle real-world challenges, either through short-term internships or full co-designed PhD programs. These partnerships accelerate innovation while building internal capability for employers.
“Partnering with Flinders on R&D means tapping into our expertise and innovation culture,” Lawson says. “It’s a win–win collaboration.”
The university is also a standout performer in the Commonwealth’s National Industry PhD Program, with a high rate of successful applications.
Innovation with community impact
Flinders’ workforce strategy is shaped by the issues South Australians care about most. Through the Flinders Wicked Problems Report – informed by feedback from 30,000 Australians – the university is directing research and training toward cost of living pressures, healthcare access, housing and environmental sustainability.
At Tonsley, Flinders’ Factory of the Future brings together researchers, students and businesses to prototype and scale advanced manufacturing solutions. Recent collaborations include modernising soil sensor production with Sentek Technologies and developing surgical training models with Fusetec.
In healthcare, Flinders’ new HealthCARE Centre at Bedford Park – backed by a $150 million federal co-investment matched by the university – will deliver 10,000 additional health appointments and graduate 1300 more health professionals each year.
A new model for skills and productivity
At a time when Australia is grappling with productivity challenges and critical skills shortages, Flinders’ degree apprenticeships offer a practical, scalable solution – one that aligns education with employment, and learning with impact.
“Universities shape what our future workforce looks like while acting as launchpads for research breakthroughs and innovation,” Lawson says. “These are important economic drivers, highlighted by the national conversation we’ve been having about lifting Australia’s productivity.”
With 20,000 Flinders students undertaking work-integrated learning each year, degree apprenticeships are the next evolution – blending paid work, world-class education and industry partnership into a single pathway.
For students, employers and the state alike, it’s a model built not just for today’s jobs but for the South Australian – and global – jobs of the future.
Romy Lawson was keynote speaker at InDaily’s South Australian Business Index event in 2025.
