Message from the Dean

The UTS Faculty of Engineering has a mission: to be a world leader in practice-based engineering education. We have a unique practice-based undergraduate course that includes two internships – each a six-month period of paid work – linked with academic preparatory and review subjects. This experience is critical in preparing students to be lifelong learners able to respond to new challenges. It also helps students work out their preferences in engineering, in time to influence later subject choices, while helping them shape and form their career directions.

At the postgraduate level, world-class coursework and collaborative research programs closely targeted to industry-driven needs are offered. The Faculty is internationally focused and committed to globalising its programs, staff and students. In 2005, in a survey published by The Times newspaper in the UK, the Faculty was ranked in the top 100 engineering faculties in the world.

The Faculty of Engineering has a proud history of winning Australian teaching and learning awards that reflect the quality of its teaching programs, and research awards that reflect the quality of its research. Recent examples include:

• Carrick citation in 2006 of five Faculty staff members for significant enhancement of practical learning experiences in engineering education, through innovative development of remotely accessible laboratories
• Australasian Association for Engineering Education Highly Commended in the Curriculum Team Project category for the Mekong e-Sim project. (Mekong e-Sim was designed to facilitate students' awareness of the political, social, economic and scientific dimensions of decision making in situations requiring the management of conflict associated with resource development. This is a unique teaching and learning activity which has brought together a committed development team comprising subject matter experts, educational developers, project evaluators as well as technical expertise.)

Collaborative research and industry support are demonstrated by:

• the establishment of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Autonomous Systems to research, explore and develop intelligent autonomous systems and their application. The Centre brings together researchers from three universities in the areas of robotics, learning and intelligent systems. This world-class team is recognised in the top two in the world
• the ongoing industry support for the Faculty's Cooperative Scholarships Program, and
• the significant national interest received for the Zunz Lecture Series hosted by the Faculty and the Industry Advisory Network which explores broad community subjects relating to engineering.

We will continue to strive to improve our student services and strengthen our links with our industry partners. I invite you to participate in this exciting journey – join with us, learn with us, collaborate and succeed with us.

Professor Archie Johnston, Dean