Professionals with STEM skills are now sought after as the world is now embracing and adopting technology and technological methods. Even developed countries like Australia need professionals who are skilled in this path.
In this article, we look at the top 5 STEM skills that are needed in Australia.
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What is STEM?
STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It encourages students to embrace discipline, innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. It is important to embrace technology and learn a STEM skill, as there are various opportunities and advantages attached to it. The STEM field mainly comprises the following areas:
- Natural, physical, and life sciences, including medicine.
- Computer, electrical/electronics, and other tech disciplines.
- All fields related to engineering
- All fields related to mathematics and the application of mathematical principles for problem-solving
Some of the benefits of learning a STEM course include:
- STEM enhances innovative thinking. Students learn to observe, analyze, and come up with possible solutions to problems
- It also encourages problem-solving. This is one of the major reasons there is a high demand for professionals in the STEM field.
- Creativity is also enhanced through studying STEM courses because you get to come up with new ways to solve technical problems.
- Additionally, STEM courses enhance communication and collaboration. Since the STEM field is wide and one person cannot master everything, professionals have to specialize and then work together towards a common goal.
- STEM also strengthens cognitive skills like reading and learning, as students have to consistently open themselves to learning to become relevant.
The Demand For STEM Professionals In Australia
Australia extends its invitation to individuals skilled in the STEM field to enable them to meet the increasing demand for skilled people in this field to fill the available positions to the extent that it contributes to the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement.
There are key sectors in Australia currently experiencing a shortage of workers, and immigration is helping to fill these gaps. Professionals like data scientists, software developers and programmers, mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries, and electrical and electronics engineers are currently in demand.
Therefore, by accepting skilled immigrants in these fields, Australia’s science and technology sector will experience growth as skilled individuals will drive innovations that businesses need to record significant growth.
This will support their science and technology sector and its workforce by attracting even more of the skilled talent that companies need to drive innovation and realize their growth potential. Combining its unparalleled ability to attract talent with the innovative capacity of its entrepreneurs, Australia is the best place in the world to start and scale a technology company.
Top 5 STEM Skills Needed in Australia
1. Cybersecurity:
Average annual salary: AUD 60,000 to AUD 80,000 per year
Job Prospect: In the past month, there were over 1600 job openings for cybersecurity on LinkedIn in Australia.
Australia offers a wide range of programs that are innovative and beneficial in today’s world, and it is not surprising that it is among the top countries to study Cybersecurity. Australia also houses many companies in different sectors, from healthcare to travel and tourism, retail, Information technology, and so on.
There is no doubt that the presence of these industries will create a need for cybersecurity experts, especially to meet up with the fast-changing demands of the world today. Some of the benefits of studying Cybersecurity in Australia include access to job opportunities; students can also work while they study; and there is also safety and security for students who decide to pursue a degree in this country.
Top Universities for Cybersecurity in Australia
- University of New South Wales
- Australian National University
- University of Sydney
- Monash University
- Queensland University of Technology
2. Software Developer:
Sometimes referred to as a computer programmer or coder, a software developer is a person who creates and develops computer software and other related applications. This individual is also saddled with the responsibility of writing, debugging, and executing source codes for computer-related software.
Software developers are highly sought-after in Australia and around the world, and even more people aspire to enter this profession.
Usually, many individuals believe that getting a university degree is a prerequisite for practicing such professions. Well, this is not necessarily the case every time.
There are some professions and opportunities you can easily take advantage of without having a university degree. One such profession is becoming a software engineer.
Software engineers are always in high demand and well-paid all over the world due to the fast rate of global technological growth.
There are always abundant job opportunities for software developers who know their stuff. Therefore, the skills required can be learned by anyone, even those with college degrees.
3. Cloud Engineering:
Average annual salary: A$122,000
Job Prospect: In the past month, there were 37,409 job openings for cloud engineers on LinkedIn in Australia.
Studying cloud engineering in Australia gives you access to study materials that will benefit you. Additionally, Australia also houses some of the top-ranked universities in the world according to the QS world ranking, which means that you have access to quality education. Moreover, since many establishments are now embracing cloud technology, getting a job after your studies should not be a hassle.
The job description a cloud engineer will be required to carry out is dependent on the company he or she is working for. However, a cloud engineer’s day-to-day task may look like this:
- Overseeing and monitoring the organization’s cloud management and data storage services.
- Helping the organization migrate their computer systems to the cloud.
- Designing and creating applications and databases that function in the cloud.
- Configuring cloud infrastructure components like networking and security services
Top universities for cloud engineering in Australia
- The University of Melbourne
- Australian National University (ANU)
- The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
- The University of Sydney,
- Monash University
4. Mathematicians, Statisticians And Actuaries
Average annual salary for Mathematicians: $166,685
Average annual salary for Statisticians: $77,671
Average annual salary for Actuaries: $129,940
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Mathematicians and Statisticians are responsible for analyzing data and using standard approaches to solve problems. Their top employers are research companies, development companies, and the federal government. They also usually work in teams with engineers, scientists, and other professionals.
Actuarial Science involves the use of mathematics, statistics, and financial theories to analyze the economic cost of risk and uncertainty. They work for insurance companies. They can also work as consultants.
5. Electrical And Electronics Engineers
Average annual salary for Electrical Engineers: $75,612
Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Electrical engineering entails designing, developing, and testing electrical equipment. These categories of engineers mostly work in offices except when they want to examine certain problems or equipment. In Australia, they work in telecommunications, manufacturing, and even for the federal government.
Eligibility Criteria To Study STEM Courses In Australia
The eligibility criteria to study a STEM course in Australia differ based on different factors, like the course, the university you’re studying at, and so on.
However, there are some generally acceptable standard requirements. However, it is important to note that these are not all the requirements from your university; this is to help guide you as you proceed on your journey.
The generally acceptable criteria include:
- Undergraduate students have a higher secondary school leaving certificate that shows that they took major science subjects. On the other hand, for postgraduate students, you need a bachelor’s degree in the STEM course you want to pursue. The minimum GPA score is 3.0 or 4.0 at the major STEM universities in Australia.
- For a bachelor’s degree, you must have a SAT or ACT. For a master’s, you must have a GRE or GMAT. The scores vary depending on the school you pick and the exact course you are taking.
- Also, every student seeking to study a STEM course at any level in Australia must have a good score on the language proficiency test. The language proficiency tests are either the SAT or TOEFL.
- Additionally, to study any STEM course in Australia, you will need a copy of your passport and your Australian student visa
Required Documents
The required documents you need to study STEM-related courses include:
- Official High School Transcripts
- A letter of recommendation
- Higher Secondary Certificate
- Bachelor’s Degree (for master’s)
- Work experience certificate (if any)
- Language test scores
- GRE or GMAT scorecards
- Personal Essay
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume or CV
- Proof of your financial resources
- Student visa.
How To Get STEM Jobs In Australia
Getting a STEM job in Australia will not be easy, even though it’s in demand. Students seeking to start a career in STEM need to pay extra attention and ensure they are the best so as to put themselves at the top of the employer’s list.
Although STEM jobs are highly lucrative, getting the right skills will determine how fast you can get a job and how well-paid the job will be.
Anyone seeking to start a career in the STEM field should embrace problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, and excellent people skills, among others.
In addition to all of these, gaining the right technical knowledge is needed; most STEM jobs require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. These all work hand in hand to put you on top.
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Seeking to start a career in the STEM field? Enrolling in the top universities in the world can increase your chances with employers. Unfortunately, it can be quite expensive to study abroad due to the current economic crisis. But this shouldn’t limit you, as there are other options you can explore to enhance your career.
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