EXCITE Newsletter | Issue 9

Subscribe to our Quarterly Newsletter

Download EXCITE Issue 9 here PDF, 8317.99 KB.

News from the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment. eNewsletter | June 2022 | Issue 9 Message From The Dean -------------------------------------------------------------------- First of all, I would like to acknowledge the hard work that all of our staff within School and University have performed during Autumn Session in 2022. I am delighted to inform you that Western Sydney University has been RANKED #1 IN THE WORLD in the 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings to assess over 1400 universities’ performance against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (https://www.timeshighereducation.com/impactrankings#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/undefined https://www.timeshighereducation.com/impactrankings#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/undefined ). Recently several of our programs in the discipline of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Management were under review by relevant professional accreditation organisations. A special thanks to the accreditation panels, colleagues, industry advisory members, employers, graduates and students for their input and commitment to the accreditation processes. In conjunction with the School of Law, we have launched a brand-new program, Master of Construction Law. This one-year long Master’s program aims to provide training opportunity for construction lawyers and professionals working in building, design, engineering, and related fields. They will be able to work with leading academic and professional experts to gain an advanced understanding of construction law and practice to manage the potential disputes and maximise commercial efficiency. The program will be located at our state-of-the-art learning facilities at Parramatta, we offer flexible on-campus and online options so students can study around their other obligations. Details can be found at https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses/postgraduate/master-of-construction-law https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses/postgraduate/master-of-construction-law . I like to extend my thanks to the 14 industry partners who actively engaged in the workshop to co-design 20 subjects across the disciplines of Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, and Industrial Design. The co-design is a part of the National Priorities Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) project under the Commonwealth Government's Job Ready Graduates initiative. I am also grateful to the five industry partners for their generous contribution to recordings of over an hour-long session on Foundations of Vertical Transportation. The introductory subject is a part of the recently launched Graduate Certificate in Vertical Transportation, and the program is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific Region. The program has been designed in close consultation with the NSW Office of the Building Commissioner and practising professionals. Details can be found at our website: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses/postgraduate/graduate-certificate-in-vertical-transportation https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses/postgraduate/graduate-certificate-in-vertical-transportation . I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our colleagues for their diligent work, all of our partners and collaborators for their continuing support and wish each and every one of you well for the rest of the year. Professor Mike Kagioglou Dean, School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment The Buzz -------------------------------------------------------------------- Multiplex Jump Start University and Careers Day On 27 and 28 April, SoEDBE were invited to join other Universities and industry organisations at the inaugural Multiplex Jump Start University and Careers Day. Over 100 female students from seventeen Sydney high schools attended the event across the 2 evenings who were given the opportunity to ask questions regarding university courses and career opportunities available in the built environment. It was a fantastic event, and we are so pleased to have been a part of Multiplex’s drive to increase diversity in the workforce and wider industry. Thank you to Sameera Wijesiri Pathirana, Laura Melo c e de Almeida, Belinda Vidurrizaga Ruiz, Danielle Taggart and Sarah Chae for attending the event and encouraging the next generation of females in the Built Environment. Teaching and Learning -------------------------------------------------------------------- Autumn semester classes are over, and the students are getting ready for final exams. Classes at the Parramatta Engineering Innovation Hub (PEIH) ran smoothly, both the students and staff enjoying the state-of-the-art new facilities. All tutorial and most of the laboratory classes for Engineering students will move to PEIH from Parramatta South (PS) campus from Spring 2022 onwards, making PEIH the central hub for Architecture, Engineering, and Industrial Design students. Classes at the Kingswood campus will continue for Engineering students who are enrolled on this campus. The accreditation visit by the Australian Institute of Building was a huge success, the panel members praising our programs, staff, and students as well as our facilities. Huge congratulations to the team who prepared the submission and facilitated the accreditation process. Another huge achievement was the successful workshop event held in May that brought together 14 industry partners to co-design 20 subjects offered by the school. The workshop was a part of the National Priorities Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) project funded under the Job-Ready Graduates Package launched by the Commonwealth Government. Research News -------------------------------------------------------------------- School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment developed the Cross-Disciplinary School Research Themes: (1) Sustainability and Resilience; and (2) Design and Digitalisation; and (3) Industrialisation and Materials, with seven active research groups working closely with researchers and industry partners: (1) Advanced technologies for human machine interface; (2) Digital systems and design; (3) Future Materials; and (4) Advanced Manufacturing; (5) Intelligent infrastructure system; (6) Renewable energy and water; and (7) Urban Transformation. Scientific Writing Workshop for SoEDBE was held in June 2022. The workshop included three topics