Page 36 - Tropic Magazine Issue 17

TROPIC • COVER STORY

proud and longstanding naming
right sponsorship of the Cairns
Taipans as well as our strong
commitment to research with two
centres - Centre for Tourism and
Regional Opportunities (CTRO) and
Centre for Indigenous Health Equity
Research (CIHER) – both providing
data and key recommendations
for the Cairns community. The
upcoming launch of our new
First Peoples Think Tank will also
positively contribute to the region.
“CQUni Cairns contributes to the
governance of community and
industry leadership organisations
including Regional Development CQUni Cairns students Jesse Peirotti, Marika Spann and Imani Williams.
Australia FNQ&TS, Cairns Chamber
of Commerce, Advance Cairns and
Study Cairns,” she explained. real-world knowledge and skills course offerings, and industry
“We also actively support local through work integrated learning engagement.
organisations and initiatives such opportunities, practical learning “The CQUniversity Cairns
as the Business Liaison Association, experiences and project-based Community Impact Plan was
which links high school students learning.” designed to have a direct,
with Industry. In July 2017, CQUniversity tangible and positive impact on
“Our industry connections are a announced the Cairns Community the industries, economies and
cornerstone of CQUni’s commitment Impact Plan – a $54.7 million shovel- communities that underpin the
to delivering industry-relevant ready proposal that would involve prosperity of Cairns and the Far
courses to students. Importantly, the University delivering on the North,” Ms Duignan George said.
CQUni’s courses are designed next stage of its community impact, “The plan comprised of six key
alongside industry to deliver forecast student growth, expanded projects and was developed in

Cyber skills shortage

Mothers are being encouraged to data science and blockchain.It comes
re-enter the workforce in cyber at a time when the take-up of ICT-
security amid an extreme shortage in related university degrees has halved
cyber-skills worldwide. over the past decade and graduation
CQUniversity’s head of cybersecurity, rates have dropped to fewer than
Dr Steven Gordon, said security and 5,000, which is likely to lead to the
safety breaches such as the recent importation of skilled labour. IT is also
Momo Challenge hoax will continue being touted for its versatility as a
to increase. ‘generalist’ profession, with some of
“Cyber security is like air – it is not the job opportunities including app
sexy, but it is necessary,” he said. programming,
A Deloitte Access Economics study database administration, IT project
shows positions for Information and management and IT analytics.
Communication Technology (ICT) CQUniversity has digital computer
workers is set to grow by almost labs on campus and seven lecturers
100,000 by 2023. Along with cyber for face-to-face tutorials. Its most
security, skills most in demand popular majors include network security
include artificial intelligence, and app development.

36 • Tropic • Issue 17