Polaris Software has entered into a partnership with the University of Western Sydney that will contribute to local capacity building and help address the issue of IT skill shortages in Australia.

The partnership has been facilitated by the NSW Government's Department of State and Regional Development which helped Polaris launch its PACE Labs - a software testing automation and performance engineering Centre of Excellence - in Sydney last year.

Minister for Western Sydney Barbara Perry said the partnership will provide significant skills training for UWS students and serve as a model for other organisations facing challenges posed by skill shortages.

The Western Sydney region was chosen because it is a major centre for population growth and industry development and Polaris’s corporate philosophy is aligned with UWS's strong commitment to community engagement.

"It will help create jobs and will drive industry and international investment in the region. I’m looking forward to seeing this partnership grow and prosper," Ms Perry said.

Professor Beryl Hesketh, Dean of the College of Health and Science at UWS, says the university is excited by the opportunities that the new joint venture will provide.

"The partnership will contribute to international research, skills and workforce building for Western Sydney, and work experience and exchange programs for UWS graduates," Professor Hesketh said.

"It will also provide significant employment opportunities for UWS graduates and the Sydney workforce."

Polaris Software is one of the largest global information technology solution providers to major financial institutions and is in the process of establishing a software testing lab in Sydney.