VU launches partnership to help tradies climb career ladder

Victoria University has launched a new partnership with the training division of one of Australia’s largest home builders, offering diploma-level building and construction graduates the option to proceed to university degrees.

VU signed the partnership agreement with the Builders Academy Australia (BAA), a nationally accredited registered training organisation, and part of the Simonds Group, which also includes long-time, well-known home-builder, Simonds Homes.

Starting this year, graduates of BAA’s Diploma in Building and Construction will receive credits and direct entry into Victoria University’s College of Engineering and Science to study:

• Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours)
• Bachelor of Building Surveying or
• Bachelor of Building Design.

Diploma graduates will receive up to 1.5 years of credit towards their Bachelor degree, meaning they will spend less time and money upgrading their skills and gaining a university qualification.

Students undertaking a diploma-to-degree pathway can enhance their employment and salary opportunities with industry internships and cadetships, and accelerate their prospects for career advancement. A Bachelor of Building (Construction Management) in particular, can lead to roles that include building and construction management, property development and building technician.

With Australia’s east coast dominating the country’s building and construction industry and accounting for roughly three-quarters of Australia’s construction employment, the pathways will help meet an upsurge in regional demand for specialised building professionals, and address a skills shortage in the construction industry.

Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Dawkins said the partnership meets two of the University’s main aspirations: to connect deeply with industry; and to make education accessible for students from diverse educational backgrounds through multiple pathways.

“This partnership builds on VU’s legacy of engaging with industry and the community, which, in turn, provides our students with real-life learning opportunities and increased graduate employability,” he said.

BAA CEO Andrew Shea said the agreement provides “an exceptionally exciting opportunity for people to receive a quality education from two reputable institutions on the way to establishing a career in the building construction industry.”

The BAA-VU pathway is aimed at:

• current students looking to enhance their skills with further education;
• current workers seeking a career change in a new field;
• students wishing to explore career options prior to committing to a degree;
• students who have not undertaken university study before;
• students aged 17-20 who have not met the qualifications for a degree.