Student Profiles
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Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering)
I chose to study Product Design Engineering for a few reasons. First and foremost, it was what I wanted to do- a combination of design and science, which utilises both the right and left side of my brain. Secondly, the location is great. I live locally so that was an added bonus! What also appealed to me about Swinburne was the size. Coming from a huge girl's secondary school, I wanted to go on to study somewhere that I didn't just become part of a huge crowd, I wanted to be noticed and wanted to benefit from smaller class sizes.
Apart from the obvious vast skill and knowledge base I have gained while studying at Swinburne, I have made some lifelong friendships and formed some really close relationships with people I wouldn't have otherwise made if I hadn't done this course. I also joined Engineers Australia as a student member and became a Campus Coordinator this year. I am now involved in organising Engineers Australia events at Hawthorn campus and attending the Junior Engineers Australia meetings. These events are a great way to meet people already in industry and fellow engineering students from around Australia . Being such a 'hands-on' and practical course, I know I will take away so many valuable skills that can't be learned from a textbook and this will definitely play to my advantage when I start applying for jobs!
In 2008, I am off to the University of Technology Troyes in France for 6 months! I am so much more than 'excited' about this experience and have wanted to do it ever since I first heard we were able to go overseas through study abroad. It means that not only will I keep learning my engineering subjects as I would while in Australia, but I will also learn French while living in a residence with the local students!
I believe that Engineers can make a difference in society and the environment. I just completed a sustainable design project in one of our design classes which taught me a tremendous amount about how our environment is currently being affected, and measures that can be taken to reduce this damage. We designed a product for the future under certain eco-friendly constraints, and all came up with some great solutions to protect our environment. Hopefully, I will be able to continue to apply this knowledge to future products I design!
Don't be afraid or put off by the maths and physics in engineering, what we learn is so practical and can be applied directly to real life scenarios. It's definitely not mundane work, I find it really challenging and interesting!
After I complete this course, my dream job is to work for "Bang and Olefsun", the Swedish designers. You could say it's the "Ferrari" dream equivalent that all the guys hope to get into! I know I'm aiming high, but why not? I think it would be fantastic to be able to employ both design and engineering skills into my field of work. -
Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics) / Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering)
After finishing year 12 in Western Australia I decided to study engineering which was mathematically based and well suited to my interests. I researched all the rather traditional areas of engineering (mechanical, electrical etc) but eventually found the very practical and exciting Robotics and Mechatronics course at Swinburne University . So, I picked up and moved to Melbourne , and have not looked back since.
First year of the course gave an insight into the world of robotics by allowing us to freely design a robot to compete in a tournament against other first year students. All the basics of programming and construction were taught throughout the year but this project was largely a self learning experience. For the following two years the workload was intense but very interesting and worthwhile. My favourite aspect of the Robotics course would have to be the Project work. It's an opportunity to express creative ideas and apply knowledge learnt from the course.
This year, I have an Industry-Based Learning (IBL) placement at Bosch Australia . The experience has been so beneficial to my future career in Robotics as I have learnt about large scale corporations and how engineering principles can be applied over many disciplines. I have met lots of inspirational females in engineering and been given invaluable advice on my own career path. The best thing for girls who are at school and considering studying Engineering is to talk to women in the industry and build from their experiences.
In the future, I intend on completing some Post Graduate studies preferably in Law. Hopefully the combination of an Engineering and Law degree will put me in fine stead for a career in intellectual property law in Robotics. -
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) / Bachelor of Business
Ever wondered why they're called 'civil' engineers? Think of what makes a civilization and you're on the right track: buildings, bridges, drainage, roads, water supplies, ports, rails, cities . . . these are all things that civil engineers can research, design, monitor and maintain out in the real world. During the four years of study that make up a Swinburne engineering degree, these areas are all introduced, leaving a well-rounded graduate who is able to move into their field of interest.
As a Swinburne civil engineering student, I have been given the opportunity to be involved in actual design projects from my first year of study onwards. Working in small design teams, my classmates and I have made site visits, done traffic studies, audited design plans, designed concrete and steel structures and much more under the supervision of the civil engineering staff. I have found the practical side of our studies very rewarding and enjoyed the chances for fieldwork presented to us, including learning basic surveying practices and soil testing.
I have always had a fascination with travel, and took advantage of the student exchange program to spend six months at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles . I was living in the dorms, hanging out in the quad, generally being a 'college' student, as well as learning the American perspective on civil engineering, including the imperial system (inches, pounds, gallons) which was probably my largest hurdle! When I was in America, I joined the civil engineering society at my college, and was privileged to be involved in a civil engineering conference, bringing together students from all over California, Nevada and Arizona to compete in events covering the broad spectrum of civil engineering, including constructing scale steel bridges, and building and racing concrete canoes that actually floated.
On returning to Australia , I became involved with a group of students interested in starting a local civil engineering society, as a social outlet for the students. There was clearly a lot of interest, because within six weeks we had 70 members! We have been able to organise several social functions at local premises, as well as site visits to places such as Smorgon steel, which was incredible.
The opportunity for Industry-Based Learning was one of the deciding factors in applying to Swinburne, and it has not disappointed. In my position as a student engineer in a private consulting firm in South Melbourne, I have been able to make use of much of the design theory I have learnt in class, as well as picking up invaluable practical knowledge. I have been involved in the design of arterial and local roads, drainage networks, water reticulation, floodway and wetlands. I have made site visits to projects that are untouched, in construction and completed. I have learnt an entirely new design software package, as well as increasing my proficiency in AutoCAD, which I had already spent two semesters learning at Swinburne. And I have been paid for my time! Although I am nearing the end of my IBL, I have been offered an on-going position, and will hopefully be able to come back and work part-time when I resume my studies next year.
When I came out of high school, I pretty much fell into engineering, without much of an idea of where it could take me. Looking back now, I am so glad I landed where I did! Civil engineering is a definite challenge, with varied possibilities for a career path. There is ample work locally, as well as internationally and there is always going to be room for a civil engineer, where would civilization be without us? -
Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics) / Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering)
I started doing robotics at High School and this was what sparked my interest for robotics originally. I was lucky that one of my high school teachers was interested in starting robotics at the school. She bought some Lego kits and the programming software from mindstorms and we started playing around with it in our free time.
I chose Swinburne mainly because of its reputation of combining theory with lots of hands-on projects because I know that I learn better when I get to do it myself. This was also illuminated by the Industry-Based Learning (IBL) program that Swinburne offers . Recently I completed my one year IBL placement at ABB. It was one of the best experiences I've had in terms of kick starting my career. I worked in the robotics department at ABB and moved between the service department and the new projects area. This meant I got to experience first-hand the running of big projects and then the service provided once the projects are completed in terms of servicing robots after they have been operating for a few years. The best part about it was definitely the networking. I learned that the saying 'It's not what you know it's who you know' really does ring true. At least after this placement, I know that I have a foot in the door when it comes to applying for positions once I graduate.
I have now completed my IBL and found the knowledge and experience I gained invaluable and a great start for my career. I have gained so much in this course! I think I've finally found my place in the world. I have made many friends with similar interests, which has been great as I went to an all girl's school where not many people were interested in things like robotics and engineering! I have learnt a range of technical skills and also professional skills from my IBL placement at ABB . I appreciate and enjoy the practical project work we do at Uni and as nerdy as it sounds, I really like the maths subjects!
I think that women bring diversity in engineering fields. In my experience, women think completely differently to men. To me, engineering is working towards making our customers satisfied. Most of the work we do is for someone else- the customer. Having a more diverse team of engineers would mean that all areas of the work are covered because a diverse mix of people develops the most effective product to satisfy the customer. It's funny that people are still commenting on the lack on women in engineering. Even during my IBL year, I never had any issues with people discriminating against me because I am female. It's unfortunate that girls at a young age don't seem to be interested in the things that lead to engineering careers, I'm sure there are plenty of girls out there who would make excellent engineers, but just haven't been exposed to the opportunities available to them at VCE.
I think doing robotics has made me a well-rounded person. I'm looking into studying abroad next year and also thinking about applying for the graduate program at ABB. I have many contacts there now so hopefully this will work in my favour! -
Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) / Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Computer Systems)
I am in my final year of studying Biomedical Sciences / Electronics and Computer Systems. I was originally intending to do only the Biomedical Science degree but was encouraged to attempt the engineering double degree by a senior lecturer who I spoke to in the early stages of my first year.
The content of the double degree is very broad, with biophysics, electronics and programming, so the course is very diverse in nature. This ultimately has allowed me to ascertain the academic strengths I have, and the areas that I enjoy studying, while creating awareness of what challenges me the most.
I was employed in a one-year Industry-Based Learning (IBL) placement at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as a technician in the Respiratory and Cardiology Departments. This allowed me to assume a responsible role while learning technical practices based on early biophysics studies of the course. I have been able to keep this employment on a casual basis even after IBL. The IBL placement was an enjoyable learning experience, and also ensured that on return to university I was eager to be challenged by the engineering subjects of the double degree.
The final year research project that I contributed to is probably one of my proudest achievements, and I am certain it will influence my future career choices and prospects. It involved measuring the power levels of radiofrequency radiation produced by Wireless LAN technology. The challenging prelude to taking measurements and analysing the data was to have a high level of understanding of wireless LAN technology and the theory of how the instrumentation used worked. The project was presented by myself and my project partner at the Australasian Radiation Protection Society in Brisbane which was an exciting opportunity and offered acknowledgment for the hard work done over the course of the year.
Studying engineering is challenging yet satisfying, and I anticipate that combining my interests in biophysics, electronics and telecommunications will lead to employment opportunities within these fields of research. -
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)
One of the most enjoyable aspects of time at Swinburne has been my Industry-Based Learning (IBL) placement. I was given the opportunity to work on some monumental engineering projects in Melbourne such as Eastlink and the Middleborough road grade separation project.
The Middleborough road project involved lowering around 1.5 kilometres of rail line by up to eight metres, as well as building a new road overhead in just four weeks – all the while minimising disruption to traffic and train passengers as much as possible.
The opportunity to be involved in this project was of great benefit to me. It not only allowed me apply my theoretical knowledge, but it led me to realise that engineering is a rewarding and challenging career that opens up numerous opportunities. With my work experience through the IBL placement, I was able to find a full-time job as a project engineer with a major construction company. I am now finishing off my final year subjects as well as working. It's challenging, but I love every part of it!! -
Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics) / Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering)
After Year 12, I attended many university open days and Swinburne appealed to me for a number of reasons: it was smaller than some of the bigger Universities; it explicitly defined its course structures (telling students exactly what's involved in a 'Robotics and Mechatronics' Engineering degree as opposed to the standard 'Bachelor of Engineering'); offered Industry-Based Learning (IBL); and offered double degrees.
Robotics and Mechatronics is a great discipline for learning about pretty much all Engineering has to offer (except Civil). I also gained a lot of great experience in group work, multi-discipline projects, how a small company works (during my IBL) and general problem solving skills.
As my IBL placement I took a position at Minifab, a micro-engineering and fabrication company. I worked as a Process Engineer - clients would bring in a concept for a micro device and I would have to figure out how to make it, and then actually make it. It allowed me to learn some pretty specific and interesting equipment and machining techniques, work on my general problem-solving skills (like figuring out how do I make this?!) and client communication skills.
I believe that Engineering was definitely the right choice for me. I have learnt a lot in my experience at Swinburne and at my IBL placement. I'm now at my final stage of the course and ready to get out into the workforce- hopefully in the field of embedded programming or process engineering.
I have one piece of advice for any girl who is considering Engineering: Go for it! You'll enjoy it as much, if not more, than any other course. It's practical, fun and the employment opportunities are broad, and pay well! I haven't experienced a single gender-based issue in my 6 years of study and work, so don't let the fact that it's a male-dominated field hold you back. -
Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics)
I decided to undertake this course as I had a friend already in the course and it seemed both interesting and innovative. Robotics and mechatronics seemed to be the future, and by learning these concepts I would have a professional advantage. Swinburne's mechatronics course was the best offered compared to other universities. The projects offered started right from first year, and were both educational and fun. There wasn't just theory involved but also a large amount of practical experience.
The robotics course provides an insight into many different disciplines such as software engineering, mechanical engineering and electronics engineering. This gives you a great advantage in industry as you can choose many different career paths. The best aspect of this course has been the hands-on experience, from welding and machining, to creating many of my own projects. Playing with Lego in first year to create a robot was pretty fun as well! I undertook my Industry-Based Learning (IBL) at Autoliv Australia . Autoliv creates and sells safety restraint systems (seatbelts and airbags). I spent one year full time working at Autoliv, but was also lucky enough to work part time throughout Uni. My IBL provided a great experience into real world situations, from dealing with customers to running your own projects. The full car crashes and airbag deployments were great to watch as well.
I think engineering for women provides an unbelievable opportunity that may not be present in other areas of future study. Through this course I was lucky enough to receive a 'women in manufacturing scholarship'. The scholarship program enhanced my knowledge of engineering in manufacturing, providing invaluable experience. I not only gained an understanding of the inner workings of the manufacturing industry but also practical experience.
I have now completed the course and ready to graduate! I will be going to work as a Project Manager for a company called ILID. They are an Australian company who design electronic shelf labels which transmit data through florescent lights. This will help save the environment – just think of all the paper labels that are saved by adopting this technology! -
Bachelor of Engineering ( Telecommunication and Network Engineering ) / Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Software Engineering)
I chose to study at Swinburne because it delivered the degree studies I was searching for and offered me Industry-Based Learning (IBL) as part of my learning experience. I have found the double degree to be challenging and diverse in its delivery with Swinburne staff friendly and available for support when needed.
I feel my broad range of studies will offer me a variety of employment outcomes on completion of the program. Last year I undertook my IBL with SEW Eurodrive undertaking an IT information assist role and a range of other short term projects. Knowledge that I had gained from studies was applied easily in my new role, and I developed valuable skills and interests through my work on SEW Eurodrive projects. I have continued working with the company part-time while completing my Swinburne studies.
I heard good things about Swinburne prior to commencing my studies and feel that the course including the IBL has placed me in good stead for my future career goals.
Influential Female Engineers
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General Manager, Project Coordination at the National eHealth Transition Authority, Brisbane
Karen Gibson has more than 20 years experience in the health and medical research sectors. Her present position gives her the opportunity to exercise leadership and coordinate activities across a range of projects relating to clinical information and ehealth. Her current position has a $32 million budget over three years with a focus on clinical terminologies and information standards.
Gibson believes she has been lucky in her career and hasn't encountered too many obstacles. She has two children and worked part-time when they were young. She said she found contract and part-time work relatively easy to find "and then when I wanted to re-enter the workforce on a more full-time basis, I found employers were willing to be quite flexible"
She believes more young women would take up engineering if more information were provided about the career at school.
"Most engineers end up being white collar workers and managers, but the profession isn't portrayed that way to young people" she said.
(Article and photo from The Magazine of Engineers Australia , Vol 79, No 10, October 2007, p33). -
Senior Vice President, Quality and Regulatory, Cochlear Ltd, Sydney
Dr Bronwyn Evans has worked more than 20 years in engineering and management roles in power generation and distribution, engineering education and the medical industry. Prior to joining Cochlear in 2005 she worked as Asia service manager for GE Healthcare, Ultrasound and was based in Singapore.
Evans leads a team of 37 responsible for quality and regulatory issues associated with all of Cochlear's implantable hearing devices. Her $4 million annual expense budget covers all areas of Cochlear's activities including research and development, manufacturing and sales and services in operations in Australia , Europe , the Americas and Asia Pacific.
Evans said she chose engineering because she had good female maths teachers at school, liked physics and the idea of following a non-traditional career path. She also had role models in her brother and her boyfriend (now husband) who are engineers.
(Article and photo from The Magazine of Engineers Australia , Vol 79, No 10, October 2007, p32). -
General Manager, Schlumberger Oilfield Services Australasia , Perth
Until recently Pia Francini was responsible for 20,000 staff as the personnel manager for Schlumberger's reservoir production group, based in Houston , Texas . She joined multinational Schlumberger in 1994 after graduating with a bachelor of mechanical engineering and developed her career through a series of international postings ranging from Brunei and Russia to Vietnam and Latin America.
Francini initially worked for Schlumberger as a field engineer and field manager in Australia , North America and South East Asia . By 2002 she was working as the global business development manager for production, where she directed a strategy that almost doubled turnover as well as successfully commercialising new technologies. By 2004 she had become Vice-President of well services.
She is a member of the World Oil Next Generation committee and holds several patents for new oil and gas technologies.
Francini believes the best path to success for young engineers, male or female, is to be humble, have a balanced outlook, keep acquiring knowledge and dream big.
(Article and photo from The Magazine of Engineers Australia , Vol 79, No 10, October 2007, p33). -
President, BlueScope Steel Asia , Chair of Tata BlueScope Steel Singapore
Kathryn Fagg has responsibility for all BlueScope Steel's business in Asia - including China , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia and Vietnam . BlueScope is Australian's largest direct investor in these countries with steel coating and painting and roll-forming facilities. BlueScope has annual revenues in Asia of more than $1 billion and 4000 employees with about half this number in China.
She said she loves working in Asia , particularly China and India , and is impressed with the dynamism of the region and the opportunities and challenges of doing business there.
(Article and photo from The Magazine of Engineers Australia , Vol 79, No 10, October 2007, p32). -
Production Operations Division Manager, ExxonMobile in Australia
Louise McKenzie has been with ExxonMobil since graduating in 1992. Within 14 years of graduation she had become a technical manager for geoscience, reservoir and subsurface engineering facilities at Gippsland in Victoria , a reservoir surveillance supervisor and a planning advisor for the parent company in Houston , Texas . Currently, she manages ExxonMobil's onshore and offshore oil and gas processing facilities in Australia.
McKenzie originally chose to do engineering (she had considered medicine) because "I was attracted to the fact that engineers actually enable the production of tangible things that society needs."
She had a positive experience at university, made a lot of friends and met her future husband there. She doesn't think that being female has presented any impediments to her career.
"Early on I realised that each of us has unique life experiences and personal characteristics and it is these, rather than your gender, that define how effective you are in a given situation."
(Article and photo from The Magazine of Engineers Australia , Vol 79, No 10, October 2007, p37).
