Western Sydney University’s new Bankstown campus will get a state-of-the-art Digital Discovery Centre if Labor wins the 2019 federal election.
The article was originally published on Canterbury-Bankstown Express, The Daily Telegraph, Author: Lawrence Machado
Blaxland federal Labor MP Jason Clare said today his party will spend $7.2 million on the world class centre at Bankstown, which is home to a sizable manufacturing sector.
This investment is part of Labor’s $300 million University Future Fund.
Jason Clare: I want to make sure that local kids can go to university in the heart of Bankstown and get the skills they need for the jobs of the future. Picture: Jeremy Piper/AAP
Mr Clare said this sector is seeing a massive change because of technology and automation with the new centre making a big difference.
“I want to make sure that local kids can go to university in the heart of Bankstown and get the skills they need for the jobs of the future,” Mr Clare said.
Western Sydney University will build a new ‘vertical campus in the Bankstown CBD. Picture: Carmela Roche
The Digital Discovery Centre will be part of Western Sydney University’s vertical campus planned for Bankstown CBD .
“Australia’s workforce will continue to change into the future, but the Liberals have done nothing to plan for those changes or make sure workers and local students have the skills they need,” Labor candidate for the marginal seat of Banks, Chris Gambian said.
Labor candidate for Banks Chris Gambian. Picture: Carmela Roche
Dr Andy Marks. Picture: Damian Shaw
Dr Andy Marks, the Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University, welcomed the funding promise.
“The Digital Discovery Centre will support south Western Sydney’s engagement with digital technologies. It’s an opportunity to leverage, rather than be destabilised by digital disruption,” Dr Marks said.
“It’s not just about digital technology. It’s about community and businesses thinking differently, collaborating, and innovating to solve the region’s challenges.”
Labor said its commitment to delivering the Digital Discovery Centre will support digital technologies and support capabilities enabling, development, prototyping and testing of technologies in areas including:
- Industry 4.0 and industrial Internet of Things.
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Neuromorphic engineering (biology computational and electronic systems)
- Collaborative robotics and automation.
- Big data analytics and data visualisation.
- Virtual and augmented reality.
- Additive manufacturing.
- Advanced sensing and haptics.