- Title
- Flexibility and community engagement in the delivery of engineering education for regional Australia
- Creator
- Hall, Stephen
- Date
- 2006
- Type
- Text; Conference paper
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/40850
- Identifier
- vital:3749
- Abstract
- Skill shortage in many areas has been identified as a significant factor limiting sustainable development in regional Australia. In engineering, this is impacting mining projects, transport and water infrastructure, and even manufacturing in regional centers. It is proving increasingly difficult to attract urban-bred and educated graduates into regional engineering careers. Many students entering University from regional Australia are from lower socio-economic groupings; meaning that the normal four-year Bachelor of Engineering program is a durational and financial barrier that many fail. The University of Ballarat has over the past five years moved in consultation with industry and the professional body (Engineers Australia) to a linked three-year Bachelor of Engineering Science and follow-on coursework Masters of Engineering Technology (similar to the European Bologna process). These programs are accredited at Engineering Technologist and Professional Engineer levels respectively. This structure allows the three-year graduates to enter the work place with a recognized award if they wish, and/or to continue their engineering education. Community engagement is an increasingly important element of the curriculum process, both in training the engineers of the future in this area together with leadership skills. Collaborative agreements with industry are also being entered into to formalize staff development through higher education programs on-site, on-campus and via distance delivery. This paper will discuss the structures of the academic programs, the modes of delivery, industry uptake of graduates, the use of single units for continuing education purposes and the potential for student exchange.
- Publisher
- Sharajah, United Arab Emirates :
- Relation
- Paper presented at 4th International Forum on Engineering Education: Integration of Teaching & Research with Community Service, Sharajah, United Arab Emirates : 25th-27th April 2006
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- Regional Australia; Engineering; Undergraduate; Students; Teaching
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