Skip to main content

Transformation of the Australian VET Sector: Investigations into the Key Competencies Required of the Australian Workforce in the Era of Industry 4.0 Technologies

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
HCI International 2022 – Late Breaking Posters (HCII 2022)

Abstract

With the commencement of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the future of new jobs, worker skills, and competencies appears to be a major concern for the Australian economy. There is widespread agreement that the current revolution (i.e., Industry 4.0) will impact both labour force transformation and future worker education. As a result, it is of high importance for researchers and practitioners in the Australian vocational and educational training (VET) sector to investigate the skills and abilities that will serve as the foundation for jobs in the third millennium. Hence, this paper aims to provide a scoping review of the skills and competencies needed in the Australian workforce in light of the Industry 4.0 revolution. Besides this, the paper offers knowledge-based contributions for all stakeholders to encourage and facilitate the transition of Australian businesses and workers to the Industry 4.0 revolution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe, E.N., Abe, I.I., Adisa, O.: Future of work: skill obsolescence, acquisition of new skills, and upskilling in the 4IR. In: Future of Work, Work-Family Satisfaction, and Employee Well-Being in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. IGI Global, Hershey (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Abelha, M., et al.: Graduate employability and competence development in higher education—a systematic literature review using PRISMA. Sustainability 12, 5900 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Adepoju, O. 2022. Reskilling for construction 4.0. In: Re-skilling Human Resources for Construction 4.0. Springer, Cham (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85973-2_9

  • Adepoju, O.O., Aigbavboa, C.O.: Assessing knowledge and skills gap for construction 4.0 in a developing economy. J. Public Aff. 21, e2264 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Afaq, A., Haider, N., Baig, M.Z., Khan, K.S., Imran, M., Razzak, I.: Machine learning for 5G security: Architecture, recent advances, and challenges. Ad Hoc Netw. 123, 102667 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal, V.: Smart sensors for structural health monitoring-overview, challenges and advantages. Sens. Transd. 221, 1–8 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Alam, S., Dhamija, P.: Human resource development 4.0 (HRD 4.0) in the apparel industry of Bangladesh: a theoretical framework and future research directions. Int. J. Manpower. A head of print (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J.: The impact of machine to machine communication on the dairy industry in New Zealand (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arcelay, I., et al.: Definition of the future skills needs of job profiles in the renewable energy sector. Energies 14, 2609 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Babacan, H., Mchugh, J.: Re-thinking agricultural supply chains in Northern Australia. Aust. J. Reg. Stud. 26, 239–268 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bongomin, O., et al.: Exponential disruptive technologies and the required skills of industry 4.0. J. Eng. 2020, 1–17 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brucker juricic, B., Galic, M., Marenjak, S.: Review of the construction labour demand and shortages in the EU. Buildings 11, 17 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerna, L., Czaika, M.: Rising stars in the global race for skill? A comparative analysis of Brazil, India, and Malaysia. Migrat. Stud. 9, 21–46 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chand, M., Tung, R.L.: Skilled immigration to fill talent gaps: a comparison of the immigration policies of the United States, Canada, and Australia. J. Int. Bus. Policy 2(4), 333–355 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-019-00039-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Creely, E., Chowdhury, R., Southcott, J.: Academics’ understandings of the literacy needs of international graduate students. Qual. Rep. 26, 3787–3804 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Lange, P., O’Connell, B.T., Tharapos, M., Beatson, N., Oosthuizen, H.: Accounting graduate employability: employer perspectives on skills and attributes of international graduates. Acc. Educ. 2022, 1–29 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • De Zan, T.: Mind the gap: the cyber security skills shortage and public policy interventions (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • De Zan, T.: Future research on the cyber security skills shortage. In: Cyber Security Education: Principles and Policies, pp. 194–207. Routledge, New York (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dudyrev, F., et al.: Worldskills approaches to comparable skills assessment in vocational education. In: Coвpeмeннaя aнaлитикa oбpaзoвaния, pp. 5–44 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duell, N.: Skills shortages and labour migration in the field of information and communication technology in Canada, China, Germany and Singapore (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • EJsmont, K.: The impact of industry 4.0 on employees—insights from Australia. Sustainability 13, 3095 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelhart, M., Mupinga, D.: Essential employability skills as perceived by employers: implications for technical and vocational education and training. Int. J. Voc. Educ. Train. 25 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Training professional smart city workforces through a partnership with technology firms. In: Smart Cities Policies and Financing, pp. 181–196. Elsevier, Amsterdam (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Esposto, A., Meagher, G.: The future demand for employability skills and the implications for the VET system. Idea 11 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Finn, R., Donovan, A.: Big data, drone data: privacy and ethical impacts of the intersection between big data and civil drone deployments. In: Custers, B. (eds.) The Future of Drone Use. Information Technology and Law Series, vol. 27. T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-132-6_3

  • Gekara, V., Snell, D.: Designing and delivering skills transferability and employment mobility: the challenges of a market-driven vocational education and training system. J. Voc. Educ. Train. 70, 107–129 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gekara, V., Snell, D., Molla, A., Karanasios, S., Thomas, A.: Skilling the Australian Workforce for the Digital Economy. Research Report. National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, A.J., Johnson, N.F., Valli, C., Vernon, L.: The impact of twenty-first century skills and computing cognition cyber skills on graduates’ work readiness in cyber security. In: Daimi, K., Arabnia, H.R., Deligiannidis, L., Hwang, M., Tinetti, F.G. (eds.) Advances in Security, Networks, and Internet of Things. TCSCI, pp. 213–221. Springer, Cham (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71017-0_15

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Guthrie, H., Waters, M.: Delivering high-quality VET: what matters to RTOs? Research Report (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haider, N., Baig, M.Z., Imran, M.: Artificial intelligence and machine learning in 5g network security: opportunities, advantages, and future research trends. arXiv preprint arXiv:2007.04490 (2020)

  • Hardy, D., Myers, T., Sankupellay, M.: Cohorts and cultures: developing future design thinkers. In: Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Computing Education Conference, pp. 9–16 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hariri, N., Nader, R.B., Haykal, S.: Technological change and future skill-shortages in engineering and architecture education: lessons from Lebanon. In: Bach Tobji, M.A., Jallouli, R., Samet, A., Touzani, M., Strat, V.A., Pocatilu, P. (eds.) ICDEc 2020. LNBIP, vol. 395, pp. 38–50. Springer, Cham (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64642-4_4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hartlieb, P., et al.: A comprehensive skills catalogue for the raw materials sector and the structure of raw materials education worldwide. Min. Technol. 129, 82–94 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-de-menendez, M., et al.: Competencies for industry 4.0. Int. J. Interact. Des. Manuf. 14, 1511–1524 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibarra, D., Ganzarain, J., Igartua, J.I.: Business model innovation through Industry 4.0: a review. Procedia Manuf. 22, 4–10 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D.: Student perceptions of the development of work readiness in Australian undergraduate programs. J. Coll. Stud. Dev. 60, 219–239 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Javaid, M., Khan, I.H.: Internet of Things (IoT) enabled healthcare helps to take the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. J. Oral Biol. Craniof. Res. 11, 209–214 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jemghili, R., Taleb, A.A., Khalifa, M.: A bibliometric indicators analysis of additive manufacturing research trends from 2010 to 2020. Rap. Protot. J. A head of print (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, B., Mlotkowski, P.: An Overview of Vocational Education and Training in Australia and Its Links to the Labour Market, ERIC (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Korčok, D. Industry 4.0: the future concepts and new visions of factory of the future development. In: Sinteza 2016-International Scientific Conference on ICT and E-Business Related Research, 2016. Singidunum University, pp. 293–298 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M., et al.: How to respond to the fourth industrial revolution, or the second information technology revolution? Dynamic new combinations between technology, market, and society through open innovation. J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Comp. 4, 21 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leitão, P., Geraldes, C.A., Fernandes, F.P., Badikyan, H. Analysis of the workforce skills for the factories of the future. In: 2020 IEEE Conference on Industrial Cyberphysical Systems (ICPS), vol. 1, pp. 353–358. IEEE (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • LI, G., Yuan, C., Kamarthi, S., Moghaddam, M., Jin, X.: Data science skills and domain knowledge requirements in the manufacturing industry: a gap analysis. J. Manuf. Syst. 60, 692–706 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez, J., Bhandari, S., HAllowelL, M.R. Virtual reality and construction industry: review of current state-of-practice and future applications. In: Construction Research Congress 2022, pp. 174–184 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y.: Industry 4.0: a survey on technologies, applications and open research issues. J. Ind. Inf. Integr. 6, 1–10 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maisiri, W., Darwish, H., Van dyk, L.: An investigation of Industry 4.0 skills requirements. S. Afr. J. Ind. Eng. 30, 90–105 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maiti, M., Ghosh, U.: Next generation Internet of Things in fintech ecosystem. IEEE Internet of Things J. Early Access (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • MArinas, M., Dinu, M., Socol, A.G., Socol, C.: The technological transition of European manufacturing companies to industry 4.0. Is the human resource ready for advanced. Econ. Comput. Econ. Cybern. Stud. Res. 55 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mir, A.W., Ramachandran, R.K.: Implementation of security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) in smart grid-based SCADA systems. In: Dash, S.S., Panigrahi, B.K., Das, S. (eds.) Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Applications. AISC, vol. 1369, pp. 157–169. Springer, Singapore (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1335-7_14

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mittal, S., Khan, M.A., Romero, D., Wuest, T.: A critical review of smart manufacturing & Industry 4.0 maturity models: implications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). J. Manuf. Syst. 49, 194–214 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Molla, T., Cuthbert, D.: Calibrating the PhD for Industry 4.0: global concerns, national agendas and Australian institutional responses. Policy Rev. Higher Educ. 3, 167–188 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J., Halton, M., Qiao, Y., Breslin, J.G.: Industry 4.0 smart reconfigurable manufacturing machines. J. Manuf. Syst. 59, 481–506 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosely, G., Wrigley, C., Key, T.: White spaces for innovation in tertiary education: Australian public provider perspectives. Int. J. Train. Res. 18, 191–210 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulaji, S.S., Roodt, S.S.: The practicality of adopting blockchain-based distributed identity management in organisations: a meta-synthesis. Secur. Commun. Netw. (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Myconos, G.: VET: The International Context. Australia: Brotherhood of St Laurence Research and Policy Centre (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagy, R.: A literature review of contemporary industrial revolutions as decision support resources. J. Agric. Inform. 13 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nankervis, A., Prikshat, V., Cameron, R.: Graduate work-readiness in Asia pacific economies: a review of the literature. In: Cameron, R., Dhakal, S., Burgess, J.: Transitions from Education to Work: Workforce Ready Challenges in the Asia Pacific, pp. 16–42. Routledge, London (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngambeki, I., et al.: Creating a concept map for ICS security–a Delphi study. In: 2021 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), pp. 1–7 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • O'dwyer, L.: Review of Employment-Based Training Models. National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Offner, K., Sitnikova, E., Joiner, K., Macintyre, C.: Towards understanding cybersecurity capability in Australian healthcare organisations: a systematic review of recent trends, threats and mitigation. Intell. Natl. Secur. 35, 556–585 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, K., Ackehurst, M., Chan, L., Polvere, R.A.: Work-Based Education in VET. National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathak, H., Kumar, G., Mohapatra, S., Gaikwad, B., Rane, J.: Use of Drones in Agriculture: Potentials, Problems and Policy Needs. ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, E., Erturk, E.: An Inquiry into Agile and Innovative User Experience (UX) Design. New Zealand: Eastern Institute of Technology, Napier (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Payton, A., Knight, G.: Skills for a Global Future (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Persaud, A. 2020. Key competencies for big data analytics professions: a multimethod study. Inf. Technol. People (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pham, T., Tomlinson, M., Thompson, C.: Forms of capital and agency as mediations in negotiating employability of international graduate migrants. Glob. Soc. Educ. 17, 394–405 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prewett, K. W., Prescott, G.L., Phillips, K.: Blockchain adoption is inevitable—barriers and risks remain. J. Corp. Acc. Finan. 31, 21–28 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prikshat, V., Montague, A., Connell, J., Burgess, J.: Australian graduates’ work readiness–deficiencies, causes and potential solutions. Higher Educ. Skills Work-Based Learn. (ahead-of-print 2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Priyanka, E., Thangavel, S.: Influence of Internet of Things (IoT) in association of data mining towards the development s mart cities-a review analysis. J. Eng. Sci. Technol. Rev. 13 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Radhakrishnan, U., Koumaditis, K., Chinello, F.: A systematic review of immersive virtual reality for industrial skills training. Behav. Inf. Technol. 40, 1310–1339 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rainnie, A., Dean, M.: Industry 4.0 and the future of quality work in the global digital economy. Labour Ind. 30, 16–33 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rampersad, G.: Robot will take your job: innovation for an era of artificial intelligence. J. Bus. Res. 116, 68–74 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rampersad, G., Zivotic-kukolj, V.: Work-integrated learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics: drivers of innovation for students. Int. J. Work-Integr. Learn. 19, 193 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rampersad, G.C., ZIvotic-kukuloj, V.: Future of work: innovation skills as the missing link for employability. In: Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education, pp. 129–135 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rho, S., Vasilakos, A.V., Chen, W.: Cyber Physical Systems Technologies and Applications. Elsevier, New York (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rook, L., Sloan, T.: Competing stakeholder understandings of graduate attributes and employability in work-integrated learning. Int. J. Work-Integr. Learn. 22, 41–56 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena, P., Papanikolaou, M., Pagone, E., Salonitis, K., Jolly, M.R.: Digital manufacturing for foundries 4.0. In: Tomsett, A. (ed.) Light Metals 2020 the Minerals, Metals & Materials Series TMMMS, pp. 1019–1025. Springer, Cham (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36408-3_138

  • Scanlan, J., et al.: Neurodiverse Knowledge, Skills and Ability Assessment for Cyber Security. Australasian Conference on Information Systems (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Seet, P.-S., Jones, J., Spoehr, J., Hordacre, A.-L. The Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Implications of Technological Disruption for Australian VET. NCVER (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sepasgozar, S.M., Shi, A., Yang, L., Shirowzhan, S., Edwards, D.J.: Additive manufacturing applications for industry 4.0: a systematic critical review. Buildings 10, 231 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, A.: The role of IoT in the fight against Covid-19 to restructure the economy. In: Stephanidis, C. (ed.) HCII 2021. LNCS, vol. 13097, pp. 140–156. Springer, Cham (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90966-6_11

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, J., Yarlagadda, P.K.: Perspectives of ‘STEM education and policies’ for the development of a skilled workforce in Australia and India. Int. J. Sci. Educ. 40, 1999–2022 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, K., Oczkowski, E., Hicks, J.: Skill shortages in regional Australia: a local perspective from the Riverina. Econ. Anal. Policy 52, 34–44 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, M.G., Kumar, S.: The implication of blockchain as a disruptive technology for construction industry. IIM Kozhikode Soci. Manag. Rev. 9, 177–188 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shmatko, N., Volkova, G.: Bridging the skill gap in robotics: global and national environment. SAGE Open 10, 2158244020958736 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, M.J., Rocha, Á.: Skills for disruptive digital business. J. Bus. Res. 94, 257–263 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thake, A.M.: Dependency on Foreign Labor in the Information and Communication Technology Sector of the Maltese Economy. Contemporary Issues in Social Science. Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tommasi, F., Franceschinis, I., Perini, M., Sartori, R.: A systematic scoping review on skills variety for VET in the industry 4.0. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Education and New Developments (END), 2020, pp. 474–476 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Udwadia, T.E.: Training for laparoscopic colorectal surgery creating an appropriate porcine model and curriculum for training. J. Min. Access Surg. 17, 180 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Umair, M., Cheema, M.A., Cheema, O., Li, H., Lu, H.: Impact of COVID-19 on IoT adoption in healthcare, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, transportation and industrial IoT. Sens. Actuat. 21, 3838 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Venegas-gomez, A.: The quantum ecosystem and its future workforce: a journey through the funding, the hype, the opportunities, and the risks related to the emerging field of quantum technologies. PhotonicsViews 17, 34–38 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatraman, S., De Souza-Daw, T., Kaspi, S.: Improving employment outcomes of career and technical education students. High. Educ. Skills Work-Based Learn. (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatraman, S., Overmars, A., Wahr, F.: Visualization and experiential learning of mathematics for data analytics. Computation 7, 37 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Verma, P., et al.: Graduate work-readiness challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the role of HRM. Equal. Diver. Incl. Int. J. 37 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Waschull, S., Bokhorst, J.A., Molleman, E., Wortmann, J.C.: Work design in future industrial production: transforming towards cyber-physical systems. Comput. Ind. Eng. 139, 105679 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Winterton, J., Turner, J.J.: Preparing graduates for work readiness: an overview and agenda. Educ. Train. 61(5), 536–551 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, C.F., Constantin, A.: Why recruit temporary sponsored skilled migrants? A human capital theory analysis of employer motivations in Australia. Aust. J. Manag. 46, 151–173 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yousif, M., Hewage, C., Nawaf, L.: IoT technologies during and beyond COVID-19: a comprehensive review. Fut. Internet 13, 105 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeidan, S., Bishnoi, M.: An effective framework for bridging the gap between industry and academia. Int. J. Emerg. Technol. 13, 454–461 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zenner-höffkes, L., Harris, R., Zirkle, C., Pilz, M.: A comparative study of the expectations of SME employers recruiting young people in Germany, Australia and the United States. Int. J. Train. Dev. 25, 124–143 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoellner, D.: Dualism and vocational education and training: creating the people who require training. Int. J. Train. Res. 10, 79–93 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abhishek Sharma .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Manandhar, S.P., Sharma, A., Bijo, K. (2022). Transformation of the Australian VET Sector: Investigations into the Key Competencies Required of the Australian Workforce in the Era of Industry 4.0 Technologies. In: Stephanidis, C., Antona, M., Ntoa, S., Salvendy, G. (eds) HCI International 2022 – Late Breaking Posters. HCII 2022. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1655. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19682-9_39

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19682-9_39

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-19681-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-19682-9

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics