Victoria University partners with Microsoft for data centre academy

Victoria University (VU) and Microsoft have opened the doors on the state’s first data centre academy, located at VU’s Footscray Nicholson Campus.

The academy, known officially as the Microsoft Datacentre Academy, has a 48-student capacity, with the program also the recipient of an industry-matched grant from the Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.

Its core purpose is to develop career-ready graduates who can plug the skills shortages gaps in two in-demand roles: critical environment technicians and data centre technicians.

Two courses are on offer - both fee-free, short-form and includeing hands-on training and mentoring from Microsoft and business leaders, along with industry certifications.

The first is an entry-level, 12-week course for anyone with basic IT skills to learn more about how data centres function, their infrastructure, safety and security. Students can apply what they learn in a simulated data centre lab giving them hands-on experience and skills.

The second course runs for 16 weeks and is aimed at getting students ready to become critical environment technicians. It focuses on the specialist skills needed to monitor and maintain environments and includes access to a purpose-built simulator emulating a data-hall ‘cage’.

This gives students hands-on experience installing and maintaining servers, data storage and connectivity.

“The Microsoft Datacentre Academy perfectly demonstrates how education and industry can work together to address critical skills shortages and open quality employment opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds,” VU’s Wayne Butson, chief TAFE officer, said.

“As demand for data centre capacity grows, so does the need for technicians with the right hands‑on skills," said John Galligan, general manager of corporate and external affairs for Microsoft Australia and New Zealand said.

"The Datacentre Academy at VU is about opening doors and equipping Victorians with job-ready skills and a clear pathway into high‑growth careers that will power our communities for decades to come.

“Our partnership with VU builds on Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to local skilling, including the Datacentre Academy in Sydney, which opened last year in partnership with TAFE NSW. With critical talent shortages across the industry, providing students with practical learning and industry-aligned skills will ensure they are ready for opportunities of tomorrow.”