Moon shot 1 in review

Transforming work integrated learning in engineering and aviation

The School of Engineering completed the delivery of the WIL-Spine Transformation Project, a comprehensive initiative embedding structured work integrated learning across all years of study for engineering and aviation students. From first year through to final year, students engaged each semester in dedicated units featuring progressively more challenging, scaffolded learning experiences.

Pioneering FinTech education in Australia

Swinburne introduced the Master of Financial Technologies (FinTech) program, the first in Australia to be affiliated with the CFA Institute, the global professional body for investment professionals. The program offers specialised units in emerging fields including financial technologies, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, business analytics and sustainability. Designed in close collaboration with industry, the program features two capstone experiences that bridge academic knowledge and real-world application.

Connecting students with the creative industries

The School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education launched the Creative Industry Experience unit, designed to connect students with leading employers across the creative sector. The unit offers authentic work integrated learning through industry-partnered projects and live briefs, supporting pathways to employment and enhancing graduate outcomes. This was supported through the School’s National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) initiative.

Celebrating excellence at the WorldSkills Regional Competition Awards

In February, Swinburne proudly hosted the WorldSkills 2024 Regional Competition Awards Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of fourteen VET students across seven skill areas. More than 100 students, industry partners and guests attended the event, recognising competitors for their excellence and dedication. Winners had the opportunity to compete in the national competition in Brisbane.

National champions to shine on the world stage

Three Swinburne VET students went on to achieve outstanding success at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships, each taking home a gold medal. Joao Marcus claimed gold in Mechatronics, while Martin Cruz and Felix McPhail secured the top spot in the Industry 4.0 category. As national champions, they are now in the running to represent Australia at the International WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, in 2026, a testament to their talent and the value of Swinburne’s vocational education programs.

Enhancing work integrated learning through digital innovation

The School of Health Sciences’ digital National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) showcase celebrated six NPILF-funded projects focused on solidifying Work Integrated Learning (WIL) through innovative digital learning and teaching resources.

Amplifying First Nations voices in creative practice

The Department of Film, Games and Animation hosted a recording for the January episode of ABC’s Speaking Out podcast, presented by Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO. The episode explored First Nations voices in culture, creative practice and the academy, and was recorded during the Swinburne-hosted conference Filmmaking Intelligences.

Student-led national election night broadcast

In May, Swinburne hosted a student-led election night radio broadcast at The Junction, bringing together students from 14 Australian universities. Aired nationally on Vision Australia Radio, students delivered end-to-end live coverage – from planning to reporting – across key electorates, supported by politics students as analysts.

Innovative vocational programs respond to changing industry and policy needs

Swinburne’s VET team collaborated with higher education partners to redevelop the Associate Degree of Applied Technologies. The refreshed program includes 20 new units and two new specialisations aligned with emerging needs in applied and digital technologies.

A new two-year Associate Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence was also developed to address Australia’s growing need for skills in AI, cybersecurity, cloud technologies and gaming. Co-designed with leading industry partners including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Check Point and Epic Games, the program prepares students for high-growth technology careers.

Industry-ready fashion design through hands-on learning

The university delivered our first Bachelor of Design (Fashion), marking an important addition to Swinburne’s design offerings. The program combines core fashion design foundations, including sewing, patternmaking and garment construction, with extensive hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing and emerging fashion technologies.

Expanding early exposure to vocational pathways

Swinburne received $1.2 million through the Victorian Government’s Vocational Taster Experiences Pilot to support early engagement with vocational education and training. Running until December 2026, the initiative enables Year 9 and 10 students in Victorian government schools to explore vocational and industry pathways before selecting senior secondary subjects.

Swinburne’s Education Strategy (2021–2025) concluded in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the university’s broader transformation agenda. Aligned with the Horizon 2025 vision, the strategy positioned Swinburne as a leader in developing the human capital and future-ready talent required for a digital, technology-enabled economy. It focused on four priority areas:

• work integrated learning
• digital transformation
• student experience and retention
• course renewal to respond to changing market demand and support sustainable growth.
   

Throughout 2025, Swinburne implemented a range of initiatives to deliver on the Education Strategy and to bolster a future-focused, industry-engaged learning environment.

Course accreditation and renewal

Accreditation was secured from the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council for three psychology programs to be delivered from 2026:

• Bachelor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Bachelor of Forensic Psychological Science 
• Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental Psychology). 
   

An AI and Digital Health major within the Bachelor of Health Science will also commence in Semester 1, 2026, equipping graduates with skills aligned to the needs of a digitally-enabled health sector.

Industry-aligned curriculum design

The Master of Professional Accounting was redeveloped to incorporate technology-focused units drawn from the Master of Finance, a financial crime unit co-designed with industry, and a capstone unit to reinforce professional capabilities including communication and client engagement.

Professional learning ecosystem

Swinburne improved educator capability through the launch of a centralised professional learning ecosystem, delivered in partnership with Adobe through the implementation of Adobe Learning Manager. The platform integrates industry-aligned content and on-demand professional development, supporting educators to build contemporary capability and respond to evolving teaching and workforce requirements.

Academic alignment and interdisciplinary learning

The Engineering Fusion initiative consolidated engineering offerings within the School of Engineering, improving academic alignment, operational efficiency and the visibility of teaching and research activity. This new approach also provided opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary learning.

Embedding Indigenous knowledges

In partnership with the Moondani Toombadool Centre, the School of Health Sciences identified explicit and implicit Indigenous course learning outcomes and mapped these to unit learning outcomes and assessment tasks. This work supports the meaningful integration of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives across the curriculum.

Swinburne’s strong focus on Work Integrated Learning (WIL) continues to deliver measurable results, with 95.6 per cent of graduates completing at least one WIL experience as part of their degree. This commitment to embedding practical, industry-engaged learning across all undergraduate courses is a key driver of graduate success.

Swinburne achieved outstanding results in the latest Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey program, leading Victoria in full-time employment and median graduate salaries among domestic undergraduates.

The university also ranked among the top in the state for overall employment and medium-term graduate outcomes, reflecting the career impact of a Swinburne education.

Student engagement with career support increased significantly following the opening of Careers Launchpad, which showed a 200 per cent increase in engagement in its first 12 weeks and supported over 700 students. C

Career development learning continued to expand through the Professional Purpose Program, reaching close to 5000 students, while targeted equity support through the Commonwealth Placement Payment enabled more students to participate in placements and succeed.

Strong industry partnerships also translated into employment outcomes, with 40 per cent of placement partners offering roles to students following completion of their WIL experience.

Swinburne’s commitment to high-quality vocational education was reinforced in the 2025 Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Performance Summary Report, published by the Victorian Skills Authority.

Results from the VET Student Survey showed Swinburne outperforming Victorian and TAFE Network averages, with 81.9 per cent of students satisfied with their training, 85.2 per cent reporting positive assessment experiences, 21.6 per cent progressing to further study and 80 per cent willing to recommend Swinburne.

Employer Satisfaction Survey results from 300 employers of apprentices and trainees also improved, with satisfaction increasing to 70.4 per cent and recommendations rising to 64.8 per cent.

Together, these outcomes reflect Swinburne’s strong focus on student experience, skills development and industry engagement.

In 2025, Swinburne continued to strengthen student experience and retention through a coordinated focus on first-year transition, data-informed intervention and holistic wellbeing across vocational and higher education. Central to this work was the Student Experience Enhancement (SEE) Program, which prioritised consistency in learning design, improved engagement and educator capability to support student success and progression.

Solidifying first-year transition and learning design

Improvements to first-year transition were underpinned by curriculum and teaching practice reform. The School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship introduced Assessment for Learning and un-grading approaches in selected first-year units to reduce assessment pressure and promote formative feedback. In parallel, a new Higher Education Canvas template was implemented across identified first-year units, providing students with a more consistent, accessible and user-friendly digital learning environment.

Enhancing engagement through teaching practice and educator capability

Student engagement and participation were further supported through the expanded use of digital tools to enhance attendance, in-class participation and collaborative learning across on-campus and online contexts. Educator capability was improved through the launch of the Educator Capability Program, which provided targeted professional development for sessional educators, supported by peer observation initiatives and a dedicated First-Year Educators course.

Expanding mentoring and industry-connected learning

Swinburne expanded structured mentoring and industry-connected learning opportunities across multiple disciplines. Group mentoring programs were extended to undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts, supporting students through peer connection, industry engagement and career development. For example, engineering students participated in a large-scale industry night hosted by the Swinburne Engineering Student Society, attended by more than 300 students and representatives from over 15 organisations. In addition, the Advertising Capstone Challenge reached its tenth year, connecting students with major industry clients including Ogilvy and Milo, with finalist teams presenting campaign solutions in Sydney.

Data-informed approaches to retention and student success

Data-driven retention strategies introduced in 2024 were further enhanced through the implementation of the Student Success Propensity Model, enabling earlier identification of students at risk of not succeeding. Proactive outreach by StudentHQ teams and Success Coaches, alongside expanded peer mentoring, the Study Buddy Program and increased coaching capacity, contributed to improved retention outcomes, particularly for domestic undergraduate students.

Improving access to academic support

Access to academic assistance was expanded through the opening of a new drop-in Success Hub, co-locating the Writing Centre, Maths Learning Centre and Learning and Academic Support services. This integrated model significantly increased student access to academic support and contributed to improved undergraduate success rates.

Equity, inclusion and culturally safe learning

Progress toward inclusive and equitable learning continued in 2025 through expanded support for equity students and students with disability.

Advancements in Universal Design for Learning helped reduce barriers to participation, including the introduction of automatic lecture and video subtitles for all students.

Swinburne also progressed culturally informed equity pathways to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student success. Led by the School of Health Sciences, in partnership with the Moondani Toombadool Centre, this work adopted a whole-of-school approach to improving recruitment, student experience and retention.

Culturally safe and flexible learning was demonstrated through delivery of the Certificate III in Learning an Australian First Nations Language, which achieved strong retention outcomes through integrated academic and wellbeing support and flexible delivery modes.

Supporting student wellbeing

Student wellbeing remained a core focus with the implementation of a university-wide Learner Wellbeing Action Plan structured around five pillars: learning and study, financial wellbeing, mental and physical health, community connection and cultural wellbeing. Peer-to-peer mental health support was significantly expanded through partnership with batyr, increasing wellbeing engagement and outreach across the student community.

Investing in contemporary learning environments

Investment in learning environments continued at Wantirna campus with the launch of six digital teaching spaces and a new Home Care Room as part of the Integrated Health and Technology Learning Hub.

Advancing cancer care education through strategic partnership

Swinburne and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre deepened their collaboration through a Strategic Educational Partnerships workshop, focused on innovative models for cancer care education. The partnership continues to drive joint programs, curriculum innovation, digital health advancements, student pathways and collaborative research.

Partnering for First Nations innovation

Swinburne’s Department of Trades and Engineering Technology and the Knox Innovation, Opportunity and Sustainability Centre (KIOSC) launched a new partnership with Outback Academy Australia and First Nations communities to explore digital technologies in agriculture. This collaboration focuses on building community partnerships and supporting sustainable, tech-enabled solutions for First Nations enterprises.

Working together for community impact

Swinburne and Maroondah City Council formalised a strategic partnership to enhance community wellbeing, economic development and lifelong learning in the region. The collaboration focuses on joint research, industry-linked learning pathways and graduate employment.

Industry-engaged legal learning through applied technology

Throughout the year, Swinburne law students collaborated with specialist consumer law firm CIE Legal to design and develop a prototype triage tool, supporting assessments under Australian Consumer Law. The project provided students with hands-on experience applying legal knowledge and technology to real-world challenges.

Industry-connected learning in finance and business

The new Bloomberg Trading Lab was launched, providing students with access to live global financial data through industry-standard Bloomberg terminals. The facility strengthens analytical capability, enables advanced research and enhances graduate employability in the finance and business sectors.

IntegraDev celebrates top computer science students with 25th anniversary award

Swinburne’s long-standing industry partner IntegraDev presented its annual awards recognising outstanding Computer Science students, including the James Wauchope Award for best graduate. Now in its 25th year, the award honours the memory of Swinburne alum and IntegraDev employee James Wauchope.

Showcasing innovation at Melbourne Fashion Week

The School of Design and Architecture hosted a Function Meets Fashion panel in collaboration with the Australian Fashion Council and Woolmark at Melbourne Fashion Week. The event explored innovation, technology and sustainability in the fashion industry, reinforcing Swinburne’s commitment to industry-engaged learning in design.

Partnering with Woolwise to support sustainable design

Swinburne partnered with Woolwise on a Performance Challenge that provided design students with in-class learning support focused on wool-based product innovation. Following the success of the collaboration, Woolwise offered funding of up to $7,000 per student to support Industrial Design Honours projects with a focus on wool.

Empowering future finance leaders through industry partnership

Swinburne partnered with Women in Banking and Finance (WiBF) to offer finance students exclusive access to professional development programs, industry insights and networking opportunities. As a leading national organisation advancing gender equity and inclusion in financial services, WiBF connects students with senior leaders and innovators through its highly-regarded initiatives.

Advancing electrician safety and skills through industry-led CPD

Swinburne’s Electrical Licence Testing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program, developed with Hager Group and supported by Energy Safe Victoria, delivers hands-on training aligned to evolving industry standards. The initiative has enhanced Swinburne’s industry reputation and established a scalable CPD model planned for state-wide expansion in 2028.

KIOSC building future skills through hands-on learning

During 2025, Swinburne continued to deliver the Knox Innovation, Opportunity and Sustainability Centre (KIOSC) at our Wantirna campus, strengthening our partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and local secondary schools. Through this purpose-built facility, we delivered hands-on STEM learning programs for secondary school students and professional development opportunities for teachers. By bringing together education, industry and government partners, KIOSC supports the development of future skills and strengthens pathways from school to further study and future careers.