RMIT has launched a one-of-a-kind suite of vocational education skill sets to prepare the local building design and construction workforces for a clean economy future.
The three qualifications, known as the Sustainable Building Design Skill Sets, will provide existing and new workers with knowledge across sustainable building design, construction and retrofitting, and operations.
Skill sets are short courses for students looking to upskill, or to complement broader qualifications, including construction project management, architecture and industrial design.
The skill sets will be fee-free during the pilot in 2024, before they are assessed for possible continued delivery.
The skill sets have been developed with funding from the Victorian Government’s $6 million Clean Economy Workforce Capacity Building Fund.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Vocational Education and Vice President, Mish Eastman, said as Australia’s largest dual-sector university, RMIT and the College of Vocational Education were primed to support the transition to a clean economy through the co-creation and delivery of new and emerging skills – working hand in glove with industry partners, communities, and government.
“These sustainable building design skill sets are an example of true industry embedded co-design that ensures we address the real workforce challenges through meaningful skills solutions,” he said.
RMIT Innovation Projects Managr Carolyn Smith said the programs would help produce graduates with specialist sustainability skills for industries that have traditionally had high carbon emissions.
“There is a huge need to upskill the building design and construction workforce, to ensure we have the relevant skills here in Victoria, but also to contribute to the clean economy future,” she said.
“We’ve co-designed these qualifications with industry and we will continue to work alongside them to understand how to adapt our training offering to ensure it meets demand.”