“Every degree we offer should be future-focused,” says Professor Linda Beaumont, Deputy Dean, Education and Employability, at the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

“We need to equip our students for the technological advancements, societal shifts and changes in the job market that will happen over the next five to ten years,” she says.

Other trends involve upskilling people to fill job market gaps through short courses, microcredentials and postgraduate degrees enabling professional accreditation.

She says that to prepare students for real-world challenges, tertiary education needs to embed ‘authentic activities’ into courses.

“When we ask employers what they want from our graduates, they don’t ask for more discipline knowledge; instead they want graduates with strong communication skills, who can work as a team, problem-solve and think independently,” she says.

She adds that university education has evolved hugely in recent decades, and connecting with industry is vital to prepare students for the fast-changing future.

Many jobs that our graduates will apply for in the future don’t exist today, Professor Beaumont says.

“Some emerging careers ­– such as metaverse engineer – sound like something from the Marvel Universe,” she says.

---

 Artificial Intelligence, virtual reality and the Internet of Things

As AI and virtual reality reshape tomorrow’s society, there will be strong demand for expertise in areas like cutting-edge game design, metaverse engineering, and developing and managing ecosystems within the Internet of Things. Research foundations underpinning this growing sector are underway at the Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence. Future-focused information technology degrees include specialties in data science, app development and artificial intelligence. Interested? You could create tomorrow’s blockbusters via a Bachelor of Game Design and Development, or design new connections via a Master of Information Technology in Internet of Things.

Fight future crime

Cybercrime and fraud cost billions every year and cyberattacks are the next frontier in international warfare – and the Centre for Advanced Computing: Algorithm and Cryptography is leading research in this field.  Future focused cybercrime-fighting degrees include the Bachelor of Cyber Security, Bachelor of Information Technology majoring in Cyber Security  or a Master of Information Technology in Cyber Security.

Biotechnology

This science of the future explores genomics, protein biochemistry and proteomics and impacts everything from medicine to agriculture. World-leading research is underway at Macquarie’s Biotechnology Hub, the Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, and the ARC Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia’s Bioactives (FAAB). Degrees in this field include a Bachelor of Science with Biomolecular Sciences major, Graduate Diploma of Biotechnology, or a Master of Biotechnology.

Engineering for health and sustainability

Engineers play a key role in what our future will look like, from mechatronic engineers who design and build robotic limbs to improve quality of life for millions of people, to miniaturisation experts making nanosensors capable of extraordinary things in centres such as Macquarie’s  Nanotech Laboratory. Specialise in mechatronic engineering as part of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or Master of Engineering Management.

Environment, conservation and sustainable energy

With climate change bringing about unprecedented environmental impacts, the world is increasingly looking to experts to help us slow and mitigate its effects.

Macquarie offers degrees in environmental science and green energy that draw on cutting-edge work happening in research centres like Transforming Energy Markets, Smart Green Cities, and the Sustainable Energy Research Centre.

Future-focused degrees include the Bachelor of Biodiversity and Conservation, Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Master of Environment and Master of Conservation Biology.