Twice as nice: STEM students to double up on industry experience

Students completing STEM undergraduate degrees at Swinburne will reap the rewards of more than double the time usually spent on work integrated learning (WIL) experiences from 2022.  

Experience is more essential than ever 

Small and medium sized businesses simply do not have the time or budget to train graduates, and larger companies are seeking the best talent in market, so demand for university graduates who come ready-armed with experience has never been greater.  

Swinburne is simultaneously meeting this demand, and preparing its students for the future of work, through its innovative work integrated learning programs which are designed to give students real industry experience as part of their studies.  

Real industry projects, every year, from year one

Newly commencing Swinburne students can gain up to eight work integrated learning experiences in their undergraduate degrees – that is up to six more industry experiences than some other universities. The change means students will work on real industry projects that are co-created with industry every year, from year one. 

Professor Emad Gad, Dean of Swinburne’s School of Engineering, says Swinburne offers work integrated learning experiences unique to the higher education sector. 

‘Unlike many other undergraduate courses with a work integrated learning offering, Swinburne’s new course structure in degrees such as our Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Aviation is unique in that the experiences are multiple, occur throughout the course, and most importantly – students don’t need to apply for them,’ says Prof Gad.  

‘Our Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree now has one work integrated learning experience every semester. Students can really embed what they learn from each experience and further develop their skills and professional purpose throughout their studies.’ 

Previous industry partners in the program include renowned organisations such as Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Dulux and Turner and Townsend.  

According to Alison Stoakley, Senior Manager, Education at Engineers Without Borders (EWB), the program opens up the space for new ideas, questions and challenging routine ways of thinking – the kind of mechanisms that create real innovation in their work.  

‘Swinburne students use their research skills, technical knowledge and creativity to either deepen or accelerate live EWB technology development projects alongside our staff team. In working toward our vision of “a world where technology benefits all”, EWB and our partners are facing complex challenges,’ says Ms Stoakley.  

Engineering student Lily (centre) completed her work integrated learning at NAB as a software engineer. Read her work integrated story.  

WIL is in our DNA

While this extra boost to work integrated learning is unique to engineering, science, IT and Aviation at Swinburne, work integrated learning itself is not.

Swinburne first launched its industry-based learning program back in 1963. Since then, its program has gone from strength to strength.  

Last year, Swinburne announced guaranteed work integrated learning for every commencing Swinburne bachelor degree student.

Swinburne’s emphasis on learning through doing is proving successful, too. The 2019-2021 QILT Graduate Outcomes survey found that Swinburne bachelor degree graduates earned the highest of all starting salaries in Victoria.  

Swinburne’s extensive partnerships with leading Australian and global organisations place the university in an ideal position to deliver on our bold guarantee.