You might think students don’t get to test their ideas against real industry standards at uni. Well, we can tell you that’s not the case at Swinburne.

As part of their master degrees, international students Pamela Wolf Casallo and Diana Romero were tasked with offering innovative solutions to real challenges being faced by the massive West Gate Tunnel Project.

The pair and their classmates studying Delivering Innovation and Other High Risk Strategies were briefed by CPB Contractors and John Holland, who were jointly awarded the design and construction contract for the project.  

Program manager and lecturer, Dr Jason Thomas said: “It made sense to reach out to an organisation playing a major part in the Australian economy. An organisation who had a real life challenge we could connect to the theoretical concepts being taught in the program.”

“And, of course the students really loved it because they weren’t working on a theoretical problem, this was a real problem and they had the opportunity to present a solution back to the company.”

“I think this is one of the leading reasons why Swinburne is an attractive place to come and study because it connects theory with implementation."

Upcoming or past events

  • Course Info

    Swinburne 2026 Study Expo

    Learn about and register for our Study Expo – the place to browse course options and study areas across undergrad, postgrad, TAFE and UniLink.

    • Chat with academics to learn how Swinburne equips you with real skills, real experiences and real connections
    • Find out about transferring unis or changing careers
    • Receive in-person application support and get on your way with a degree that gives you more
    Tue 20 January
    4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
    Hawthorn campus, ATC101, Level 1
    Free
    Register now (Swinburne 2026 Study Expo)

  • Change of Preference Expo 2025

    Want more for your ATAR? Drop by Change of Preference Expo to explore your options and get personalised advice from course experts, based on your Year 12 results.

    Fri 12 December
    10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
    Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC), Hawthorn campus
    Free
    Register now (Change of Preference Expo 2025)
  • Course Info
    • Media and Communication
    • Games and Animation
    • Design

    A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | Creative

    Discover exactly what it’s like to study something creative at Swinburne with a day of workshops, presentations, a campus tour and more.

    Tue 8 April
    9:00 AM to 3:15 PM
    George Swinburne (GS), Hawthorn campus
    Free
    Sessions full (A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | Creative)

Keep on exploring