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

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    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
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    Tue 20 January
    4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
    Hawthorn campus, ATC101, Level 1
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    A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Business and Criminology Student

    Want to see what it’s like to study business or criminology at uni? Walk a day in a Swinburne student’s shoes and find out.

    Thu 11 April
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    Foyer, Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC), Hawthorn campus
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    A Day in the Life of a Swinburne STEM and Aviation Student

    Want to see what it’s like to study STEM or aviation at uni? Walk a day in a Swinburne student’s shoes and find out.

    Tue 9 April
    9:00 AM to 3:15 PM
    Foyer, Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC), Hawthorn campus
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    A Day in the Life of a Swinburne STEM and Aviation Student

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