A new Industry Doctoral Training Centre  (IDTC) has been established by the Australian Technology Network (ATN) of Universities to foster professional skills among mathematics researchers and help them launch their careers in industry.

The centre, the first of a series planned by the ATN, will focus on workplace skills such as project management, innovation and communication; advanced researcher skills such as research methodologies, network building; and advanced knowledge skills, such as cross-disciplinary collaboration.  It will offer training to 20 – 25 PhD students a year, up to half of whom could be funded by industry. Students will undertake a four-year PhD program, including that provided by the IDTC (Mathematics).

The IDTC‐M will act as a pilot for similar centres in other discipline areas. Mathematics was chosen both due to the rise in demand for doctorates in the field, projected to rise 37% between 2011 and 2020, and its application in a wide range of fields.

More information is at http://www.atn.edu.au/