Swinburne launches networking lab

Swinburne University of Technology officially launched its state-of-the-art networking laboratory at the Hawthorn campus today.  

The laboratory is a dedicated facility for students to learn and research networking technologies, and undertake Cisco - the global leader in network engineering - certified training programs. 

Dean of Swinburne's Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies Professor Leon Sterling said the university now offers the best networking laboratory in Australia.   

"This world-class facility is the culmination of Swinburne's long and multi-faceted association with Cisco, both in education and research," Professor Sterling said. 

"The lab is particularly important in the context of developing large-scale broadband networks and will provide industry-accredited training to both higher education and TAFE students. 

"This facility gives students greater access to networking equipment and the use of virtual systems allows students to develop very large networks," he said. 

The lab, part of the Advanced Technologies Centre, allows students to dynamically connect various computers within the room to different physical networking devices through the use of virtual networks.

It allows each student individual access to one kit of equipment (four routers and four switches) during each session, as well as remote access to enable self-paced learning.

The breakfast launch, held today from 7am to 8.30am, featured guest speakers Emma Broadbent and Glenn McPherson from the Cisco Networking Academy and Jamie Chard from NBN Co. 

It included a guided tour of the laboratory and was attended by more than 70 industry professionals. 

To find out more about telecommunications and networking engineering at Swinburne visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/ict/areas/telecomm.html