SKILLS
BUILDING THE FUTURE WORKFORCE
The availability and accessibility of human resource expertise is of critical concern for current and future carbon-based industries throughout the world. ACI helped to develop skills for the carbon products industry through new training opportunities with its industry and education partners. Through its research portfolio, ACI aimed to secure the scientific, engineering and trades expertise needed to develop low-emissions carbon technologies.
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
In 2022-23, ACI worked in partnership with Federation University Australia to address skills shortages and encourage local students to study in Gippsland. ACI provided 12 scholarships of $7,000 each for local students to undertake an electrical engineering degree at Federation University, Churchill.
These scholarships supported local students to gain qualifications in skills needed as the region’s economy transitions away from traditional forms of power generation.
Following the success of this program, ACI created a legacy fund with Federation University Australia to create further opportunities for students from the Gippsland region to pursue STEM studies in the engineering and allied disciplines.
From 2025, Australian Carbon Innovation Scholarships of $10,000 each will be available to support undergraduate studies in engineering or science (chemistry, physics, mechatronics) with a strong preference for engineering at Federation University’s Gippsland campus. Application details are available at Australian Carbon Innovations Scholarships - Federation University Australia.
POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
BCIA / ACI fully or partly funded research projects undertaken by around 40 higher degree students. BCIA provided six (6) fully funded scholarships in 2010-11, as listed in the table below:
BCIA / ACI also supported 17 supplementary PhD scholarships, providing funding additional to university and Australian postgraduate scholarship awards.
As well as the above direct funding of PhD students, ACI’s research and fellowship funding supported PhD, masters and post-doctoral research projects through its technology R&D program, as shown in the table below.
RESEARCH LEADER FELLOWSHIPS
Research Fellowships are awarded to outstanding researchers of international repute who can provide a significant leadership and mentoring role in building Australia's internationally-competitive research capacity within the carbon innovation sector.
In 2010, BCIA allocated $1 million over four years for two fellowships; Dr Klaus Hein and Dr Alan Chaffee. Monash University and HRL Technology Pty Ltd provided ~$3.3 million in direct and indirect support for Professor Hein's Fellowship programme. Monash University provided a further $3.2 million in direct and indirect support for Professor Chaffee's Fellowship programme.