Flinders University will be the official partner of the Tonsley Technical College in a collaborative partnership that focuses on innovation.

The Tonsley Technical College will be built in tandem with Flinders University’s Factory of the Future with the project set to open by 2025.

This follows the announcement last year that the The Australian Science and Mathematics School (ASMS), located at Bedford Park, will be the partner school, and provide a key pathway to employment for students to complete their SACE while developing vital workplace skills at Tonsley Technical College.

The Malinauskas Labor Government has committed $208 million to build five technical colleges – three in metropolitan Adelaide and two in regional South Australia – to provide an alternative senior secondary option that equips students with the workplace skills needed in areas of high demand.

Co-location of the Factory of the Future facility with the Tonsley Technical College will place South Australia at the global forefront of developing vibrant industry linked research, education and training facilities.

The Factory of the Future is an industry focused research and capability-building facility for South Australian companies seeking to accelerate the uptake of advanced skills and technologies to help foster innovation, boost productivity and increase international competitiveness.

It will provide senior secondary students with visibility on a day-to-day basis of a wide range of rewarding employment opportunities available in sectors of great strategic importance to the South Australia.

Consultation on the technical colleges has seen more than 500 employers and representatives attend key forums and meetings across the state to ensure industry is engaged in guiding the development of the programs at each individual technical college.

Principal of the Australian Science and Mathematics School (ASMS) Kylie Eggers said it was exciting to see how today’s announcement builds on that, expanding the positive relationship that the school has with Flinders University.

“This new location will enhance the great relationships we already have, and I look forward to seeing this development getting underway in our neighbourhood.”