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University of Adelaide

  • 28% international / 72% domestic

Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership

  • Professional Certificate

Following significant federal investment, the South Australian defence industry is set to boom. Huge submarine construction and shipbuilding programs are in train. Workforces are growing.

Key details

Degree Type
Professional Certificate

About this course

Make a strategic move in defence

Following significant federal investment, the South Australian defence industry is set to boom. Huge submarine construction and shipbuilding programs are in train. Workforces are growing. Demand for leadership skills rises by the day.

Whether you're a defence technician keen to step up, or an outside professional looking to step in, our Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership will prepare you to make your move.

Study locations

North Terrace

North Terrace Campus

What you will learn

Developed in consultation with the Defence Teaming Centre, this intensive program is delivered over ten months across a series of executive-style intensive sessions. Through contemporary blended and hands-on experiential learning, you will:

  • deeply understand complexity in the defence industry
  • gain proficiency in self-leadership, self-awareness and change management
  • learn to effectively manage multi-party collaboration
  • become comfortable applying adaptive leadership skills in challenging environments
  • understand networks in a defence industry context
  • enhance your academic literacy and research skills.

You'll benefit from frequent industry visits; presentations from senior defence specialists; advanced simulation and guided experimentation exercises; and an immersive retreat in a key defence facility.

Career pathways

You could find yourself guiding critical Future Submarine system integration. You might help manage upgrades to the world-leading JORN over-the-horizon radar network. Perhaps you'll lead a Triton unmanned aircraft sustainment team.

You could even springboard into further study-the Professional Certificate carries credit into our prestigious MBA.

Visit our apply now page for information on the application process.


  • Strong links to industry leaders
  • Developed in consultation with Defence Training Centre
  • Executive-style intensive sessions

Course structure

The Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership consists of two courses totalling 13.5 days over 10 months. The key topics for each course are:

Defence Industry Leadership I: Leading Oneself Defence Industry Leadership II: Leading Others
  • Leading oneself
  • Servant leadership
  • The Defence Industry context
  • Self-awareness
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Communication
  • Self-empowerment
  • Ethics
  • Neuroscience
  • Decision-making
  • Leading others
  • Aspects of adaptive leadership
  • The VUCA world
  • Understanding teams
  • Understanding people
  • Building and managing networks
  • Creating collaboration
  • Managing and leading change
  • Dealing with disruption
  • Integrative thinking

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Business & Management courses at University of Adelaide.
82.5%
Overall satisfaction
84.2%
Skill scale
73.7%
Teaching scale
85.7%
Employed full-time
$100k
Average salary