Swinburne University of Technology

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Swinburne's BA Building Logo

Swinburne University of Technology is a university based in a number of campuses in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. As well as degree programs at bachelor, masters and doctoral levels, the university also operates as a technical college (through its TAFE Division), offering certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, and associate degree programs.

It operates research programs in several areas. As a relatively small and focussed university, Swinburne has adopted a strategy to seek excellence in a limited number of areas. The University is strong in specialised areas such as radio astronomy, astrophysics, reliable software systems, service oriented computing, photonics & optics, social research, biotechnology, biomedical science, psychology and molecular simulation.

The University hosts the National School of Design, the National Institute of Circus Arts and the National Centre for Sustainability. Its Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing is one of Australia's leading astronomy research groups.

Swinburne has campuses in numerous parts of Melbourne including Hawthorn, Croydon, Prahran, Lilydale, Wantirna, and Healesville. There is also an international campus in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Swinburne maintains a strong practical emphasis in conjunction with a theoretical basis via its pioneering IBL (Industry Based Learning Programme). This allows students to undertake a year of paid work in an industry relevant to their course, promoting a holistic, more rounded learning experience.

With the Higher Education Support Amendment (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Act 2005 taking effect as of 1 July 2006, Swinburne has established the Swinburne Student Amenities Association to ensure that student services are provided. The Swinburne Student Amentities Association has struggled to provide services to date with the majority of services currently unavailble. [The National Union of Students][link] on advice from the [Swinburne Student Union][link] has placed Swinburne University of Technology in the lowest ranking when it comes to service provision and support of independent student representation. The Swinburne Student Union continues to provide services to members.

History

Swinburne was established as the Eastern Suburbs Technical College by George Swinburne in 1909, by 1913 the institution had changed its name to Swinburne Technical College.

Due to the 1976 - 78 reorganisation of the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Act, Swinburne was given the power to grant bachelor degrees. The first of these were granted in 1981.

Swinburne was proclaimed a University of Technology on 1 July 1992.

Faculties and Schools

• Faculty of Business and Enterprise
• Faculty of Design
• Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences
• Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies
• Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale

Research

Swinburne has focused on building a strong research base that utilises collaborative and applied research. The University has pleged its support behind nine major research initiatives, among its many other varied research activities and interests. Swinburne's numerous research centres operate within, but are not constrained to these research initiatives. The University's research profile has grown significantly over the last few years and features a growing international prominence.

The Research Initiatives are as follows:

Advanced Computing and Modelling

Advanced Industrial Technologies

Astrophysics

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Brain Function and Cognition

Entrepreneurship

New Communication Technologies

Optics and Applied Laser Technology

Social Sustainability and Well Being

Strategic Foresight program

This graduate program in Strategic Foresight was founded by Professor Richard Slaughter at Swinburne University in Melbourne Australia. Originally the program was hosted by the Australian Foresight Institute, however, it is now housed within the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship at Swinburne University.

The stated ambition of the course was to create the next generation of foresight practitioners. The curriculum was grounded within the tradition of Future Studies, however, it also added the emergent sub-disciplines of Critical Futures and [Integral Futures] in order to balance out the predominatly external focus of much mainstream futures work.

The program commenced teaching in 2001. In 2004 an online teaching mode was offerred. Details of the current offerings of the program can be found at [Strategic Foresight program].

The students of the Strategic Foresight program have also formed their own alumni group and their offerings can also be found at [AFI Alumni].

Alumni

• Kathlyn Ballard, artist
• Graeme Base, Children's illustrator
• Kathy Bowlen, ABC (Australia) Newsreader, Journalist
• Brandon Burns, top 40 finalist in Australian Idol, minor roles in Australian television programmes.
• Lara Cameron, designer
• Alisa Camplin, aerial skiier
• Mary Covatta, designer, founder of [Covatta Communications]
• Ray Crooke, artist
• Michael Dawidowicz, designer, creator of [Urban Collective]
• Tony Duggan, commercial manager for the Australian Open
• Mark Korda, Ansett Administrator
• Michael Leunig, cartoonist
• Richard Lowenstein, film director
• Sidney Nolan, artist
• Philomena Tan, writer
• Paul Tanner, co-directs a London-based marketing and public relations (PR) company.
• Houman Younessi (MA and Ph.D. only), scientist.

Hawthorn campus photos

BA Building, 4th Floor	Courtyard and Cafe
TAFE Buildings	Glenferrie railway station

See also

• List of universities in Australia

External links

• http://www.swin.edu.au
• The website features a [Virtual Tour of Swinburne campuses] with photos and 3D maps.

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