University of Technology SydneyHandbook 2008

Message from the Dean

The UTS Faculty of Engineering has a mission: to be a world leader in practice-based engineering education. The Faculty has 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 2007, 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:

  • UTS was one of six in the top band of the 'Science, Computing, Engineering, Architecture and Agriculture' cluster in the Teaching and Learning Performance Fund and thereby the top in engineering in the Sydney basin
  • remotely accessible laboratories were awarded a $100,000 grant from the Carrick Institute and another Carrick grant valued at $100,000 was awarded for Shaping Engineering Education
  • strong support from the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) that has funded a rural scholarships program for undergraduate civil engineering students, valued at close to $2 million.

Collaborative research and industry support are demonstrated by:

  • the establishment of a new research Centre in Real Time Information Networks (CRIN)
  • five new ARC Discovery and two new ARC Linkage grants awarded in 2006 (a record total amount of $1.6 million was obtained from ARC in 2006)
  • the Australian Power Institute (API) has been established by an industry group that funds academic programs. Funding for their first project has been approved for UTS:Engineering to develop a Power Engineering Masters program and deliver some subjects in the Faculty's undergraduate program in distance mode delivery
  • ongoing support from industry for the Faculty's cooperative scholarships program
  • 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.

The Faculty will continue to strive to improve the experience of students and strengthen its links with 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