By Danielle Kutchel
Federation University has partnered with technology giant IBM to launch Australia’s first degree in Cognitive Enterprise.
A cognitive enterprise is a business that uses disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), automation, blockchain technology (which supports cryptocurrency) and 5G to transform and innovate.
Federation University’s new Bachelor of Cognitive Enterprise, which features content developed in collaboration with IBM, will focus on how disruptive technologies can be used to innovate across all areas of business – from marketing, IT, management, banking and finance, to social and environmental sciences.
It’s all about preparing students for the jobs of the future, according to Dean of the Federation Business School, Professor Christina Lee.
“We were trying to understand how we can ensure that our students have relevant skills for jobs of the future,” Professor Lee explained.
“Future jobs are going to be quite different to the jobs of today because of the digital economy.”
Importantly, she said, this is not a technology or IT degree; rather, it’s a business degree “with a very strong technological bent”.
“We thought business students should be prepared with those skills to be able to work in organisations that are cognitive enterprises – and they don’t have to be IT companies, they’re just companies that make use of technology to improve the way they do business.
“We’re not turning them into data scientists, but we are making sure they have an understanding of technology.”
The degree features two in-built digital certifications from IBM’s skills academy – one on artificial intelligence and another on blockchain technology.
Students looking to enrol in the course don’t necessarily have to have any previous understanding of the digital technologies – although as Professor Lee said, many students are already experimenting with these technologies at school or in their own time.
The Bachelor of Cognitive Enterprise is a three year degree and includes work-integrated learning for students.
A second course, the Bachelor of Cognitive Enterprise (Professional Practice) will provide students with an additional full year of paid work experience during their degree.
“This is where students can spend one year in an organisation with a scholarship, so they are immersed in the organisation to learn skills within it so that when they come of out the degree at the end of the fourth year, they already have industry experience,” said Professor Lee.
The degrees offer plenty of flexibility for students who wish to combine their business learnings with specialisations from other faculties, like Arts or Health.
Both degrees will begin in 2022 and will be offered at the university’s Ballarat, Berwick, Brisbane and Gippsland campuses, as well as online.
As part of the launch, secondary school students in Ballarat, Berwick, Brisbane and Gippsland will have the chance to take part in Cognitive Enterprise boot camps.
Teams of Year 11 and 12 students will be challenged to develop creative ideas that add value to an everyday object by combining it with technology.
The winning team members will each win a $3000 scholarship towards their first year of study of the Bachelor of Cognitive Enterprise degree at Federation University.
IBM Australia and New Zealand country managing director, Katrina Troughton, said the specialised degrees would help address future skills deficiencies as organisations shift and embrace disruptive technologies.
“Together with Federation University, we are thrilled to help build a solid path for future leaders to learn how to lead effectively at the intersection of technology innovation and business strategy,” she said.
