Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space

The University of South Australia has partnered with the University of Exeter and Carnegie Mellon University to launch the Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space, the first program of its kind to meet the challenges facing both sectors.

Call to Action

In response to increasing global geopolitical instability and the establishment of the AUKUS alliance between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S., the University of South Australia (UniSA) introduced the Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space (GEMBA). The AUKUS security pact presents significant opportunities for those working in and servicing the defense and space sectors.

Skills development, in particular, will be crucial to the growth of the two ecosystems. While technical skills are required under Pillar 1 of the AUKUS agreement to build submarine infrastructure—including construction and maintenance of in-service submarines—the advanced cooperation outlined under Pillar 2 will require developments across the supply chain.

The AUKUS pact introduces important prospects, as efforts to develop cutting-edge capabilities are strengthened by trilateral information and technology sharing, intended to accelerate defense and space innovations. The arrangement means working with different cultures, agencies, organizations, and teams. This requires technical understanding as well as future-focused capabilities, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

UniSA has partnered with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Exeter in England to launch the GEMBA program, the first of its kind tailored to meet the most pressing challenges facing the defense and space sectors. The program is designed for uniformed and nonuniformed personnel from small and large defense companies, government, and adjacent industries from AUKUS and other countries, and its goal is to increase decision-making and response speeds while expanding capabilities.

Innovation Description

The GEMBA model delivers three main innovations. First, driven by the Pillar 2 demand for increased speed and capabilities, we tailored a program to address critical gaps in cybersecurity, space systems, geopolitics, and defense procurement. This will help future-proof the workforce and build innovative leadership capabilities across the defense and space sectors for the new era.

Second, we partnered with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Exeter in presenting an 18-month, cohort-based program delivered across three countries—Australia, the U.K., and the U.S.—to reflect the trilateral AUKUS alliance. The program features 12 courses covering the organizational and functional requirements of an MBA contextualized in the defense and space sectors. Students undertake three in-country residential study programs in Adelaide, Australia; Washington, D.C., U.S.; and London, England, interspersed with online learning.

Third, we partnered with industry to co-create a current and relevant curriculum. For example, for the capstone, we partnered with the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG). CASG is the key delivery agency for Australia’s Department of Defence, designed to meet the Australian Defence Force’s military equipment and supply requirements. Students will be assigned a nonclassified project as issued by CASG for the capstone. We have also partnered with Accenture, which will supply an advisory coach to each group as its members work on their capstone challenge.

Innovation Impact

Working in coopetition, rather than in competition, allows pockets of expertise and efficiency gains to be used in producing innovative learning experiences on an international scale. The three-way partnership between UniSA, Carnegie Mellon, and Exeter reflects the cross-cultural collaboration required to achieve the complex defense and space projects specified under AUKUS. The partnership sets a precedent in creating the infrastructure and team-based cultures needed to ensure workforce speed reaches its potential.

This new ecosystem aims to continuously innovate, recognizing the value of lifelong learning and the need for providers to offer end-to-end learning solutions to meet evolving learner demands. Future iterations of the program will include short-course offerings and industry-specific courses as either discrete learning options or pathway options into the GEMBA.

In its first year, the GEMBA program expects to deliver global impact by developing leaders who can navigate complex geopolitical relationships and work across different cultural and institutional contexts.

Glen Gallagher, operations manager at Boeing Defence Australia and one of the program’s inaugural students, says he expects the GEMBA program to help place him at the forefront of AI and space weaponization and the ethical use of autonomous systems, which he suggests pose unique moral dilemmas. “We must navigate the delicate balance between innovation, effectiveness and conscience,” Gallagher believes. He says, “The program will also help act as catalysts for those of us in the defence and space sector, to drive us forward to make informed decisions using the visionary leadership skills gained throughout the course.”

Reference Links

• “UniSA Kicks Off Specialist MBA to Fill AUKUS Skills Gap,” MBA News
• “New MBA Degree to Teach Skills for AUKUS Alliance Skills,” Campus Review