Information for students

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology was formed on 1 July 2008 as a result of the Academic Structures Review undertaken in 2007. The review recognised the disciplines of engineering and information technology as a critical element of the UTS academic profile. The review's recommendation to amalgamate the former faculties of engineering and information technology was endorsed by the UTS Council in August 2007. Amalgamation of these two critical disciplines provides an organisational context to strengthen research capability and output and identify synergies in teaching and learning to enhance student study options for high-level, professionally-recognised courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

UTS: Information Technology courses are administered by the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. The faculty structure comprises three portfolio areas in Teaching and Learning; Research and Development; and International and Enterprise Development, each led by an associate dean. Five schools house the academic sub-disciplines of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology:

• School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• School of Computing and Communications
• School of Electrical, Mechanical and Mechatronic Systems
• School of Software
• School of Systems, Management and Leadership.

A range of professional degrees are offered by UTS: Information Technology from undergraduate through to doctoral studies maintaining a strong commitment to cooperative education, of both the work experience 'sandwich' form and the cooperative scholarship form. UTS: Information Technology continues to be active in research and has strong links with industry in all aspects of its work.

Location, contacts and inquiries

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology is located at City campus, Broadway, in Buildings 1, 2 and 10. Key staff are:

Dean

Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning): UTS: Engineering

Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning): UTS: Information Technology

Associate Dean (Research and Development)

Associate Dean (International and Enterprise Development)

Head, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Head, School of Computing and Communications

Head, School of Electrical, Mechanical and Mechatronic Systems

Head, School of Software

Head, School of Systems, Management and Leadership

Faculty Manager

Engineering and Information Technology Outreach Office

The Engineering and Information Technology Outreach Office deals with all prospective student inquiries and is located at CB02.4.16 (this connects with Building 1 at City campus, Broadway).

The office is generally open from 9am–5pm Monday to Friday

Postal address

UTS Student Centres

All inquiries from currently enrolled UTS students are handled by the UTS Student Centres located across the City and Kuring-gai campuses.

Students enrolled in UTS: Information Technology degrees (undergraduate and postgraduate) are advised to direct all their course-related inquiries to:

Key student liaison staff

The following staff are the key liaison staff for engineering and information technology students requiring specialist or academic advice to manage their enrolment and student candidature. All students are to direct all initial inquiries to the UTS Student Centre. Only if the matter cannot be resolved by Student Centre staff will it be forwarded to the staff below. An appointment with these staff is based on referral from the UTS Student Centres, within staff consultation times.

Director, Undergraduate Programs: UTS: Engineering

Director, Postgraduate Coursework Programs: UTS: Engineering

Director, Undergraduate Programs: UTS: Information Technology

Director, Postgraduate Coursework Programs: UTS: Information Technology

Manager, Academic Programs Office

Manager, International and Enterprise Development

All UTS: Information Technology staff contact details are available at:

Environmental Health and Safety Plan

UTS: Information Technology is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for students, staff and visitors, and adopting a socially responsible approach towards protecting and sustaining the environment. Promoting a safe, healthy and environmentally sound environment is the responsibility of all staff.

UTS: Information Technology has an Environmental Health and Safety Plan, copies of which are available on the UTS: Information Technology website. Staff and students should familiarise themselves with the plan and comply with all hazard procedures outlined in it.

The names and locations of First Aid Officers, and of first aid kits, are indicated by appropriate signs in Building 10 and School areas.

Computing facilities

UTS: Information Technology provides computer laboratories, network services and high bandwidth internet access for use in teaching and research. This gives students the software and information they need for their subjects and the services to communicate and collaborate with their peers. Personal laptops can also be used to access network services and the internet.

Teaching laboratories

Computer laboratories

UTS: Information Technology has 17 computer laboratories that are used in many subjects. They are regularly updated with the latest hardware and undergo a complete upgrade of operating systems and programs before most semesters.

Most labs offer students a choice of operating systems at the login screen, which gives the laboratories great flexibility to meet student and class needs. These laboratories can be grouped into 11 general purpose laboratories, each of 30 computers, as well as three internetworking labs, two professional presentation labs and a graphics lab.

Access

Except during scheduled classes, general access to laboratories is:

• 8am–10pm Monday to Friday (during semester)
• 9am–6pm Monday to Friday (outside semester).

Booking times are located on laboratory doors.

Seven-days-a-week, 24-hour access is provided to some laboratories throughout the University, this includes some of the UTS: Information Technology labs.

Network services

UTS: Information Technology provides a Unix shell, via SSH, with a home directory that is backed up regularly, and a print quota for the IT student printers. Students can access additional services, this is normally organised by their lecturers; services including Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL databases, Subversion repositories, and internal websites.

Breakout rooms and lounge areas

These areas provide space for students to collaborate together or for individuals to have time on their own. All areas have access to the wireless network and many, particularly the breakout rooms, have whiteboards, wired access and power. Breakout rooms can be booked and are suited for groups wanting a private meeting space, while the atrium lounge and table areas are more casual and social spaces.

Specific-purpose laboratories

Access to specific-purpose laboratories is arranged by the academic involved in a particular subject or research project.

Networking laboratories

These three laboratories are equipped with user configurable rack mounted network equipment for teaching computer network subjects.

Graphics laboratory

A laboratory of specially equipped computers for graphic intensive subjects is available. In particular, the computers have advanced graphic accelerator cards and the Maya software application.

Creativity and cognition studios

These studios form a multidisciplinary environment for research into computing support for creativity and into the development of new art forms and art practice using digital media. They include a games studio, a sound studio and a video wall with an interaction space incorporating a range of sensor systems.

Access grid

UTS: Information Technology operates an access grid (AG) node on behalf of the University. This provides a research environment for the study of issues relating to collaborative work in distributed environments. The AG utilises a high-bandwidth environment for virtual meetings. The AG node at UTS is provided for the use of the research community at UTS and is connected to a multi-gigabit experimental network to support grid and advanced communication services.

Remote access facility

The remote access facility provides modem access for students and staff. This gives users access to UTS: Information Technology's computing systems and the internet.

Service desk facility

The UTS: Information Technology service desk, located in the Technical Support Centre at CB10.3.370, provides users with information on the usage of equipment, software and facilities, help with problems and is a point of contact for reporting faults and feedback:

Short courses

UTS: Information Technology offers a variety of professional, commercial and customised courses throughout the year in the areas of computing and information technology. Courses regularly on offer include Advanced Java (J2EE), Developing Windows and Web Applications using Visual Studio .NET, Fundamentals of Unix, IP Telephony and Voice Over IP (VoIP), Java Fundamentals, Network Security, Object-oriented Programming with C++, Programming with C, SQL Server 2005 for Business Intelligence, SQL Server 2005 for Developers, Fundamentals of Unix (Solaris and Linux), Integrating PHP with My SQL, Linux Systems Administration and a range of Cisco certified network academy preparation stages for certification (CCNA stages 1 to 4). CCNP courses are also available. These courses are offered by the UTS Cisco Networking Academy. Courses may also be customised to suit corporate training needs. Information on all short courses is available from: