The future of work has never been more uncertain.

The rapidly developing fields of big data and machine learning have thrown the security of up to  — and reframed the entire discussion about what abilities tomorrow’s ideal worker will need to thrive.

Some futurists are predicting the elimination of traditional career pathways altogether in favour of a more flexible ‘cluster’ paradigm — where every job is fluid, every sector bleeds into the next and transferable skills are king.

It’s never been more vital for higher education curriculum to be developed in step with industry leaders. Only close consultation with real-world experts can ensure graduates are thoroughly equipped to navigate tomorrow’s uncertain ‘new work order’.

This spirit of industry collaboration drives La Trobe’s Master of Cybersecurity.

Collaborative course design

From the ground up, our Master of Cybersecurity course has been developed alongside industry leaders, including Optus, Australia Post, Cisco and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, to ensure a future-proof cybersecurity degree.

With the help of our enterprise partners, we identify the skills shortages faced by industry and address them directly.

‘We need people with problem-solving skills. We need innovators, we need people with legal and regulatory skills. We need communicators and educators to help people understand the problems facing the cybersecurity field,’ says Simone Bachman, former Head of Information, Security, Innovation and Culture at Australia Post (now Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co.).

Addressing industry needs

Michael Fieldhouse, former Director, Emerging Businesses and Federal Government at Hewlett Packard Enterprises (now Director, Emerging Businesses and Cyber Security at DXC Technology), explained how Hewlett Packard’s involvement in developing the course will benefit graduates. ‘When people complete the course, they’ll understand some of the things we require from day one. That makes them more employable to the industry.’

Each organisation helped us form a clearer picture of the current state of the cybersecurity industry, allowing us to make sure the Master of Cybersecurity targets the learning areas that are highest priority for future employers.

‘There are very few certifications available in this area, especially in the tertiary level,’ says David Hird, Head of Security Standards and Compliance at La Trobe. ‘The companies don’t know who is qualified or who is not qualified, so it’s very difficult for them to trust that the person they’re employing actually has the skills that they need. This degree will ensure that the person is properly trained and certified and is ready to be employed.’

Capable, confident graduates

Incorporating industry specialists into the course design process sends a strong signal to employers, letting them know that graduates are ready to be a meaningful and valuable player in the digital sector.

We’re confident that, through collaboration with government and the private sector, La Trobe Master of Cybersecurity graduates are ready to lead in their careers and stand out from the crowd.

We’re proud to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and send them into a digital landscape seeking their skills and experience.

‘It’s a long-term career choice,’ says Brian Williams. ‘It’s going to be quite an exciting one for the next few years because there’s going to be constant change. You can almost guarantee it.’

Looking forward

As the nature of Australia’s employment culture continues to rapidly redefine what the ideal graduate will be in the future, we continue to forge stronger links with new and varied industry partners.

We strive to integrate the advice and experience of real-world leaders into the learning experiences of all our students, ensuring they’re prepared for the industry challenges of tomorrow – whatever form they may take.

Find the right way to break into your future career with industry integrated study at La Trobe.