Industry Based Learning
Swinburne University of Technology is a small university with a big name in Industry-Based Learning (IBL).
We were a pioneer of IBL in Australia offering the first program to Production Engineering students in 1963.
Over the years the benefits of IBL have been extended to other disciplines in the University so that today
we place hundreds of students annually from the areas of Business, Information Technology, Science, Engineering
and Design.
IBL provides a great opportunity for the employer to integrate recent theories studied by our students into
their organisations. Our students will work either within Australia or overseas. IBL means that when students
graduate, they not only have gained an important professional qualification, but relevant work experience,
giving students a head start, and linking organisations with education.
An excellent illustration of these points is demonstrated by Final Year engineering students every year,
where they can participate in the Formula SAE Racecar competition. The team, Team Swinburne, consists of
students who pool their combined engineering knowledge and work experience gained through their IBL year to
design, build and race an open wheel racecar. Employers are involved in this project through their various
forms of sponsorship and the provision of advice and encouragement.
 Progressive information on the Team Swinburne.
Benefits to students
How do students benefit from IBL?
Obtaining a university degree is a student's most important step in
gaining employment and launching a professional career. Gaining valuable
industry experience puts the student an extra step ahead of other graduates
seeking employment. Employers value the extensive work placements available
within the degree programs at Swinburne University.
Students gain through:
Practical application of academic knowledge
Exposure to general business practices, including
communicating and presentation
An understanding of the complexity of the work environment
(for example, relationships with colleagues, an employer's expectations
and working to real deadlines)
The opportunity to be involved with some of Australia's
leading employers
Increased confidence and maturity
Increased motivation on return to University
Earning an income
See also
Student
Feedback on IBL (new testimonials)
Frequently
asked questions about IBL
Benefits to Employers
Swinburne University offers employers in small,
medium, and large businesses:
The opportunity to select the right student for their workplace
Staff flexibility: students free up staff to work on priorities
Early recruitment: the opportunity to recruit top
students before they graduate
Cost effectiveness: no hiring costs or recruitment
fees
New ideas: students with the latest concepts and
technologies
Opportunities to consider collaborative projects
for completion by students in their final year
Regular contact with IBL staff coordinators at Swinburne
who provide industry with the opportunity to have input into curriculum
development
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