Swinburne University has introduced its Bachelor of Engineering Practice (Honours), where students will join a simulated engineering practice, work as engineers in teams on industry projects and be supported by engineering mentors throughout the entire course.
The new course has been co-designed with multiple industry partners to ensure that future graduates will be prepared to enter into an existing company or create their own.
“Reports commissioned by UNESCO and the Australian Council of Engineering Deans suggest that a new approach is needed to engineering education,” said Associate Dean, Learning Innovation in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Dr Llewellyn Mann.
“This course was created as a world-leading approach to engineering education. It leverages the existing strengths of Swinburne in engineering, design, innovation, entrepreneurship and social impact.”
Entry to the degree will be based on interview rather than ATAR results and assessment will be based on individual performance within a team rather than on exams.
The degree will run alongside the existing Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), which currently produces technical engineers that are in high demand, according to Swinburne. The practice course will produce engineers with technical depth, but also a broader interdisciplinary focus.
“These new graduates will be in-demand among employers who are looking for engineers who are integrators, who have a broader entrepreneurial and innovative skillset, and who will work alongside the more technical engineers to oversee and manage projects,” said Mann.
The course will conform to the requirements for accreditation by Engineers Australia and students will graduate as engineers.
Domestic students will be accepted into the degree in semester 1, 2018 and the course will be open to all prospective students from semester 1, 2019.