Last Friday, Cisco welcomed the announcement by the Australian Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Hon. Bill Shorten that The University of Melbourne was selected to establish the inaugural Australian Centre for Workplace Leadership (ACWL) at a press conference hosted in our Melbourne Office. The establishment of the ACWL supports the government's aim to improve productivity by creating higher performing workplaces and stronger leadership capability in Australian organisations.

We welcome the creation of the ACWL as management look to learn new skills and leadership capabilities in order to capture the opportunities presented by Australia's growing digital economy. Cisco supported Melbourne University's submission to establish the centre, as the two organisations have successfully partnered on a number of initiatives, such as National Telework Congress, to improve management capability and leadership in Australian workplaces. 

"Melbourne University and Cisco have a long-standing relationship that fosters joint thought leadership in areas critical to the development of the Australian economy and society, particularly through our partnership of the Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society (IBES). The ACWL will be an important extension of this relationship and allow us to pursue our joint passion for workplace innovations supported by the use of new technology," said Les Williamson, Vice President of Cisco Asia Pacific Area.

In addition, our partnership extends to technology deployment across Melbourne University that benefits students, researchers and staff of the University and provides a crucial technology platform to support the ACWL at Melbourne University.

We are looking forward to closely collaborating with the University to provide access to Cisco's global network of thought leaders, research reports, training materials and access to technologies that foster the reliable delivery of immersive learning content and activities, enhanced connection and collaboration between remote learners, their teachers, mentors and peers and provide greater access to higher education utilising the capacity of the National Broadband Network.

For more details on the announcement, please see the DEEWR press release here. You can also view a transcript of the press conference hosted at the Cisco Melbourne Office here.