Engineered solution for skills shortage

Faculty of Science and Technology

Deakin’s new civil engineering degree was launched at an event held at the Geelong Technology Precinct on 5 August. The launch of the new program, designed to address the skills shortage of engineers in the region, was attended by over 30 members of industry and academic staff.

Geelong industry representatives gave presentations on the importance of civil engineers to the local government industry and potential employment opportunities in the region. Guest speakers included Managing Director of Barwon Water, Michael Malouf; Managing Director and Principal of AGB Group, Tony Alsop; General Manager City Services, City of Greater Geelong, Peter Reeve; Manager of Program Delivery, South Western Victoria, VicRoads, Bryan Sherritt; and Human Resources and Training Manager Abigroup Limited, Lewis Derrico.

Head of Deakin’s School of Engineering and Information Technology, Professor Kate Smith-Miles, said the new civil engineering program was tailored to reflect the needs of industry.

‘From the initial planning stages, there have been discussions with industry representatives to ensure our program is designed to meet future industry requirements,’ Professor Smith-Miles said.

‘We sought input at every stage from leading organisations across the sector, including the water industry, local government, VicRoads, consulting engineers and civil contractors.

‘This is a great opportunity for industry to engage with the University to find a sustainable solution to the skills shortage in the engineering sector. There is a great capacity for the region to train and retain local graduates in a timely and cost efficient manner.’

Mr Alsop, said the return of civil engineering to Deakin University was significant to not only Geelong and Victoria but to Australia as the demand for professional engineers increases.

‘Many of the challenges that now face our community will require the quality and expertise of engineers, that Deakin University has an excellent history of producing, more than ever before,’ Mr Alsop said.

‘New infrastructure projects such as water supply, reuse and conservation, alternative energy and energy conservation, global warming and carbon trading will not only require more professional engineers but also well-educated engineers. We are very fortunate to have civil engineering back at Deakin University and the importance of having graduates in this field cannot be over-stressed.’

Through its Master of Engineering program, Deakin University has been training graduate civil engineers for the water industry and local government since the early 1990s. Adding Civil Engineering to the existing degrees offered within Deakin’s Faculty of Science and Technology broadens the scope and variety of career choices available to students.

Civil Engineering Program Director, Associate Professor Kanagaratnam Baskaran, said, ‘We are already involved in urban design and planning, architecture and construction management. What was missing was civil engineering.

‘This new course will fill the gap and bring it all together. Industry and students will get a broader experience from the interaction between all of these disciplines. We have developed the course in such a way that it gives students a holistic view. In addition to the building construction side of things students will learn about energy efficiency and sustainability.

‘We are dedicated to keeping talent in the region. Regional students that train in the local environment have a better chance of serving the local community because they have a vested interest and have already established a social network. Graduates coming out of the region have ownership of the region.

‘Our partnerships with local industry provide hands on experience to our students, enabling us to train and develop graduates who are job ready. There will be regular site visits, guest lecturers and project-based activities involving professional engineers from industry,’ Professor Baskaran said.