Thursday, 6 December 2007

Leading national engineering group, Monadelphous, has joined forces with The University of Western Australia in a major partnership which will help meet the strong demand for engineers that has arisen from the State’s resources boom.

Monadelphous and UWA have formed a strategic partnership to build and operate an innovative world-class learning centre for engineering students.

To be known as the Monadelphous Integrated Learning Centre (ILC), the new facility will provide an environment for team-based learning, increased project-based learning, and collaborative use of laboratories across study disciplines.

The partnership involves Monadelphous providing financial support to UWA to help build the Integrated Learning Centre, and participating in the preparation of engineering students for professional practice.

UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, said the partnership would not only deliver major benefits to students studying at the University, but also to the engineering profession and industry in particular, and the wider community more generally.

“Through this partnership we will be able to continue to ensure our students have access to the best education possible allowing them to operate at international standards of excellence,” Professor Robson said.

Professor Mark Bush, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics said the Monadelphous ILC would be a modern and unique centre providing students with a learning setting allowing them to develop the necessary skills for modern engineering practice.

“The creation of the Monadelphous ILC accompanies major changes to the engineering course that recognises the need to maintain and further develop a range of professional skills in our graduates, whilst continuing our strong focus on technical skills. The centre will provide invaluable additional work spaces for our students modelled on the professional environment,” Professor Bush said.

Monadelphous Chairman Mr John Rubino said the partnership aligns with Monadelphous’ business strategy which relies heavily on skilled employees to successfully deliver projects for customers.

“We view the learning centre at UWA as a practical solution to help meet the increasing demand for engineers by ensuring that the next generation of graduate engineers are as job-ready as possible,” Mr Rubino said.

Mr Rubino called on other companies in the resources sector to invest in education and training of skilled workers to help reduce the gap between supply and demand.

“The current resources boom is providing Western Australians with the chance to be involved in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to participate in projects that will shape the Australian and global economy for decades to come.

“Resources are the life blood of Western Australia so we need to act now to secure the future of our State. Investing in educational centres like this one at UWA is a sensible commercial decision for companies who are working in this sector,” he said.

The Monadelphous ILC is designed to mimic industry work places, with workspaces and offices suitable for team-based project work and interaction with industry mentors and project leaders. The centre also includes design, manufacturing and prototype testing areas, presentation facilities and meeting areas for team interactions.

Students will study engineering curriculum which will be constantly reviewed and amended with input from Monadelphous and other industry partners, to ensure that there is an increased emphasis on graduating students that are job-ready.

The Monadelphous ILC will be located in the heart of the engineering precinct on UWA’s Crawley campus in Perth. Work will commence on the Monadelphous ILC in early 2008 and is expected to be completed in time for the commencement of Semester 2, 2009.

“The University welcomes enquiries from other industry partners wishing to be involved in this and future initiatives at UWA,” Professor Bush said.

Media references

Professor Mark Bush (UWA) 61 8 6488 3704

Iwona Polski (Corporate Affairs Manager, Monadelphous) 61 8 9316 7429

Doug Durack (UWA Public Affairs) 61 8 6488 2806
0419 946 294

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