The search for balance in the design and delivery of an Australian IT professional masters degree

This paper describes how one industry-university partnership in the design of a masters degree is connecting university IT academics with professionals from diverse fields to design an online professional program that links theory to practice. Through this curriculum students benefit by having hands on industry experience, while academic staff are extended by the interface with professionals in cutting edge IT fields. Students are exposed to a range of skills that encourage discovery and experimentation while building solid knowledge of employer expectations. The paper reports on stakeholdersí perceptions of the quality of the course, the balance of theory and professional skills, and how quality can be maintained within the industry partnership.