Swinburne University of Technology

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Swinburne University of Technology
Logoswin.png
Swinburne University logo
Motto Achievement through learning [1]
Established 1908[2]
1992 (University Status)
Type Public
Chancellor Bill Scales, AO
Vice-Chancellor Linda Kristjanson
Undergraduates 15,150 (full time equivalent)[3]
Postgraduates 2,320 (full time equivalent)[3]
Doctoral students 739 (full time equivalent)[3]
Other students 9,673 (full time equivalent)[3]
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Campus Urban
Affiliations Universities Australia, Open Universities Australia, Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning
Website www.swinburne.edu.au

Swinburne University of Technology (often simply referred to as Swinburne) is an Australian public university of technology based in Melbourne, Victoria. Swinburne was founded in 1908 by the Honourable George Swinburne as the Eastern Suburbs Technical College. Its foundation campus is located in Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne which is located 7.5 km from the Melbourne central business district.[4]

In its first year, it enrolled 80 students in subjects including carpentry, plumbing and gas fitting.[5] Today, Swinburne operates five campuses in two countries and has an enrolment of 60,000 students across vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.[2]

In addition to its main Hawthorn campus, Swinburne has campuses in the Melbourne metropolitan area at Prahran, Wantirna and Croydon. Swinburne also has a branch campus in Sarawak, Malaysia which it has operated in partnership with the Sarawak State Government since 2000.[6]

Internationally, Swinburne is ranked among the top 400 universities in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities[7] and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings[8] and in the top 500 universities in the world by the 2013 QS World University Rankings.[9] Swinburne is a member of the prestigious Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning,[10] but its membership of European Consortium of Innovative Universities was inactive since 2012.[11][12] Swinburne University of Technology is a principal partner to the Victorian Division of Engineers Australia. [13]

History[edit]

Swinburne University of Technology has its origins in the Eastern Suburbs Technical College, which was established in 1908 in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn by the Honourable George Swinburne. In 1913, the institution changed its name to Swinburne Technical College. The Institute attained university status on 1 July 1992 following the passage of the Swinburne University of Technology Act 1992.[14]

As a consequence of the Dawkins reforms to Australian higher education in the early 1990s, the university commenced delivery in the suburb of Prahran through a merger in 1992 with Victoria College (previously the Prahran Institute of TAFE),[15] which stood on the site of Victoria's first training institutes, the Prahran Mechanics' Institute.

In 1997, Swinburne opened a campus at Lilydale, Victoria. In 1998, it merged with the Outer East Institute of TAFE and commenced operating from campuses at Croydon and Wantirna.[5]

In 1999, Swinburne established the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA).[16]

In 2000, the university opened a campus in Sarawak, Malaysia, as a partnership between the university and the Sarawak State Government.[17]

In January 2011, Swinburne announced that it would expand its online degree offerings through a $10 million joint venture with Seek Limited.[18] Initially called Swinburne Direct, the venture subsequently became known as Swinburne Online.[19]

In February 2011, the university opened the Advanced Technologies Centre,[20] a 22,000 square metre building of modern architectural design at its Hawthorn campus,[21] known locally as "the cheese grater building".[22] The building was subsequently officially opened by the Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the Hon. Senator Kim Carr on 8 December 2011.[23]

Following a series of funding cuts announced by the Victorian Government to vocational education in May 2012,[24] Swinburne announced that it would close its Lilydale and Prahran campuses.[25] Lilydale campus officially closed on 1 July 2013.[26] In August 2013 the university announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE to sell its Prahran campus to NMIT with effect from 2014.[27]

In August 2013, Swinburne became the first university in Victoria to adopt a smoke-free policy on all of its campuses.[28]

In June 2014, the university opened a major new building at its Hawthorn campus, the Advanced Manufacturing and Design Centre,[29] part-funded by a $40 million Federal Government grant.[30]

Academic[edit]

Governance[edit]

Swinburne is governed by a 10-member Council, whose members include the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor.[31] Bill Scales AO has been Chancellor of the University since 2005.[32] Professor Linda Kristjanson has been Vice-Chancellor of Swinburne University since 2011 and was previously the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) at Curtin University.[33] She was the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year in 2002.[34]

Rankings[edit]

Rankings
ARWU[35]
(2014, world)		 301-400
QS[36]
(2014/15, world)		 481-490
THE[37]
(2014/15, world)		 351-400

Internationally, Swinburne is ranked among the top 400 universities in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities[7] and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings[8] and in the top 500 universities in the world by the 2013 QS World University Rankings.[9]

Swinburne also is ranked 76-100 in the world in the field of physics by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.[38]

The university's computer science and information technology, sociology, psychology, and communications and media subjects were ranked 151-200 in the world by the 2013 QS World University Rankings.[39]

Faculties[edit]

Swinburne comprises three "super faculties", each of which conducts both teaching and research.[40]

Science, Engineering and Technology[edit]

The Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences comprises the School of Science, the School of Engineering and the School of Software and Electrical Engineering and associated research centres.[41]

Health, Arts and Design[edit]

The Faculty of Health, Arts and Design comprises the School of Health Sciences, the School of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the School of Design, and associated research centres.[42]

Business and Enterprise[edit]

The Faculty of Business and Enterprise comprises the Swinburne Business School and associated research centres.[43]

Research[edit]

Based on its research activity as assessed by the Australian Research Council, Swinburne is one of the most specialised of Australian universities.[44] It is research active in 11 of the ARC’s 22 broad fields of research interest.[45]

Swinburne has 14 Research Centres with a concentration in the physical and health sciences, engineering and ICT fields:[46]

  • Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures
  • Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing
  • Centre for Quantum and Optical Science
  • Centre for Transformative Innovation
  • Centre for Human Psychopharmacology
  • Centre for Micro-Photonics
  • Centre for Ocean Engineering Science and Technology
  • Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Industrial Research Institute Swinburne
  • Swinburne Institute for Social Research
  • Swinburne Sarawak Research Centre for Sustainable Technologies
  • Centre for Computing and Engineering Software Systems
  • Brain and Psychological Science Research Centre
  • Swinburne Centre for Social Impact

Vocational education[edit]

Swinburne offers vocational education (TAFE) courses in a range of areas including arts and social sciences, business and management, design, digital media, engineering, English language and study skills, environment and land management, film and television, health sciences and community care, information and communication technologies, media and communications, performing and creative arts, science, apprenticeships and traineeships.[47]

Swinburne College[edit]

The university also operates Swinburne College, a provider of pathway education courses which prepare students for university study. Programs offered by Swinburne College include English language, foundation studies, diploma and professional year programs.[48]

Campuses[edit]

Hawthorn[edit]

The Hawthorn campus is Swinburne’s main campus. It hosts a range of undergraduate and vocational courses, postgraduate programs, short courses and research.

Wantirna[edit]

Wantirna is a TAFE specific campus. It is home to the National Centre for Sustainability and a Trade Training Centre, the Knox Innovation, Opportunity and Sustainability Centre (KIOSC), which offers educational opportunities to students from schools in its local area.[49] The campus also offers courses in areas including health and community services, visual arts, business and accounting.[50]

Croydon[edit]

The university's Croydon campus is a TAFE specific campus, with a focus on training in trades such as building, carpentry, electrical and plumbing.[51]

Prahran[edit]

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) operates from Swinburne's Prahran campus.[52]

Sarawak, Malaysia[edit]

Main article: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

The Sarawak campus is located in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.[53]

Architecture[edit]

  • Daryl Jackson's Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (2001)

  • The George Swinburne Building, also known as 'The George' (2011)

Student life[edit]

Students on campus

Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA)[edit]

The Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA) provides services and activities at Swinburne to encourage socialisation among all students across all Swinburne campuses.

The SSAA runs orientation activities; it also organises clubs and societies to represent the student body. It provides academic advice and advocacy, along with entertainment, free lunches and other activities throughout the year.[54]

Swinburne Student Union (SSU)[edit]

Swinburne Student Union (SSU), is the independent student representative body of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Membership is opt-in for all students. SSU offers its members free printing, free breakfasts, and academic advocacy.[55]

Notable alumni[edit]

See also[edit]

Portal icon University portal

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Swinburne Motto". Swinburne University. Retrieved 2014-07-01. 
  2. ^ a b Quick Facts (About Swinburne website)
  3. ^ a b c d "2013 Annual Report". Swinburne University. Retrieved 2014-07-01. 
  4. ^ "Hawthorn, Melbourne". Google Maps. 
  5. ^ a b "Swinburne History". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 31 October 2013. 
  6. ^ "Education Malaysia website". Government of Malaysia. Retrieved 2 November 2013. 
  7. ^ a b "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2013". Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  8. ^ a b "Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013-14". Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  9. ^ a b "QS World University Rankings 2013". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  10. ^ http://www.seameo.org/asaihl/
  11. ^ http://eciu.web.ua.pt/page.asp?pg=7
  12. ^ http://eciu.web.ua.pt/search.asp?pg
  13. ^ https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/victoria-division/victoria-division-partners
  14. ^ "Swinburne University of Technology Act 1992". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 31 October 2013. 
  15. ^ Roche, Vivienne (2003). Razor gang to Dawkins: a history of Victoria College, an Australian College of Advanced Education. University of Melbourne. 
  16. ^ "History of NICA". National Library of Australia web archive. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 31 October 2013. 
  17. ^ "Education Malaysia website". Government of Malaysia. 
  18. ^ "Swinburne University to go it alone with its online courses". The Australian. Retrieved 31 October 2013. 
  19. ^ "Swinburne Online opens for business". Swinburne University Media Centre. Retrieved 31 October 2013. 
  20. ^ "ATC opens for business". Swinburne University of Technology. 23 February 2011. 
  21. ^ "Swinburne Advanced Technologies Centre". Kane Constructions. Retrieved 2 November 2013. 
  22. ^ "Largest cheese grater in the world". @tke_rsk. 20 May 2013. 
  23. ^ Carr, Kim (8 December 2011). "Swinburne Uni launches Advanced Technologies Centre". Australian Government. 
  24. ^ Wheelahan, Leesa. "TAFE cuts will affect everyone: state governments should think again". The Conversation. Retrieved 31 October 2013. 
  25. ^ Benjamin Preiss (6 July 2012). "Swinburne to shut Lilydale campus". The Age. 
  26. ^ Kimberley Seedy (1 July 2012). "Lilydale campus officially closed". Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader. 
  27. ^ "NMIT to turn Swinburne’s Prahran campus into centre for creative arts". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 August 2013. 
  28. ^ "Swinburne lauded for smoke ban". The Age. Retrieved 1 July 2014. 
  29. ^ "Advanced Manufacturing Centre". Swinburne. Retrieved 1 July 2014. 
  30. ^ "Rudd Labor invests in Victoria's students and researchers". Australian Government. 18 June 2010. 
  31. ^ "Swinburne Council". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  32. ^ "About the Chancellor". Swinburne University of Technology website. Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  33. ^ "Kristjanson appointed VC at Swinburne". The Australian. 9 March 2011. 
  34. ^ "Telstra Women's Business Awards". Telstra. Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  35. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved 15 August 2013. 
  36. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2014/15". Quacquarelli Symonds. Retrieved 19 September 2014. 
  37. ^ [www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014-15/world-ranking "THE Top 400 Universities 2014-15"] Check |url= scheme (help). THE. Retrieved 2 October 2014. 
  38. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities". ARWU Subject rankings. Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  39. ^ "QS World Subject Rankings 2013". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 
  40. ^ "Swinburne Faculty structure". Retrieved 2 January 2014. 
  41. ^ "Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology". Retrieved 2 January 2014. 
  42. ^ "Faculty of Health, Arts and Design". Retrieved 2 January 2014. 
  43. ^ "Faculty of Business and Enterprise". Retrieved 2 January 2014. 
  44. ^ Hare, Julie (6 December 2012). "How universities performed in ERA 2012 (Interactive Tool)". The Australian. 
  45. ^ "ERA 2012 outcomes, Australian Research Council". Australian Government. 
  46. ^ "Swinburne Research Centres". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 14 March 2014. 
  47. ^ "Swinburne TAFE courses". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 1 November 2013. 
  48. ^ "Swinburne College". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 2 January 2014. 
  49. ^ "Swinburne opens new training centre". CareerSpot. 26 April 2013. 
  50. ^ "Wantirna campus". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 2 November 2013. 
  51. ^ "Croydon campus". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 2 November 2013. 
  52. ^ Priess, Benjamin (29 July 2013). "Circus instute nets $13 million in federal funding and will stay at Prahran campus". Sydney Morning Herald. 
  53. ^ About Swinburne Sarawak
  54. ^ MYSSAA Swinburne Student Amenities Association
  55. ^ Swinburne Student Union services
  56. ^ "Student Achievements - Persuading, changing and influencing: Mark Hartley". Swinburne. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2010. 
  57. ^ "Student Achievements - Persuading, changing and influencing: Kylie Matulick". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 20 April 2010. 
  58. ^ "Laurence Scott Pendlebury (1914–1986)". Kew Gallery. Retrieved 16 November 2012. 
  59. ^ Swinburne Alumni - Philomena Tan

External links[edit]
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Northern Territory
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National
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Coordinates: 37°49′16″S 145°2′18″E / 37.82111°S 145.03833°E / -37.82111; 145.03833

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