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Engineers Australia to celebrate USC degree
The University of the Sunshine Coast will be the guest of honour at a special Engineers Australia dinner at the Maroochy RSL Club on Friday 28 October at 6pm.
The event has been organised by the Sunshine Coast branch of Engineers Australia to celebrate USC’s recent success in gaining provisional accreditation for its Civil Engineering degree.
Media are welcome to attend this celebration, which is expected to attract 150 guests.
Engineers Australia spokesman Bill Thew said USC’s introduction of a Civil Engineering degree had enabled students to study locally instead of having to travel to Brisbane or undertake studies via correspondence.
“This course is attracting students from Brisbane, regional Queensland and further afield, who see the benefits of being able to gain world-class qualifications in this high-demand industry right here on the Sunshine Coast”, Mr Thew said.
USC’s Professor of Engineering Mark Porter said the Civil Engineering program – with majors in Construction and in Environment and Water – was quickly growing in popularity with an intake of 35 students in 2010 and 75 this year.
Professor Porter said students were gaining hands-on industry experience with some of the Sunshine Coast’s largest employers of civil engineers, including state and local government, construction companies and engineering consultancies.
Guest lecturers from industry also strengthen the USC program by linking theory with practice.
“This is a win-win scenario with students benefitting from being exposed to local industry leaders as part of their study program and attaining work experience so early in their careers,” Professor Porter said.
“Local employers are also reaping the benefits with some having already employed students while they’re still completing their studies.”
Engineers Australia awarded provisional accreditation after an on-site visit to USC in late 2010. Full accreditation is expected in 2013 to coincide with the first graduates of the new program.
USC developed the Civil Engineering degree in consultation with the University of Southern Queensland and with USC’s Industry Advisory Committee, which comprises representatives from government, council, engineering firms and the University.
Queensland Division President of Engineers Australia Dennis Wogan said the local industry was pleased by the strong interest in USC’s Civil Engineering degree to date and by the University’s plans to introduce a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 2012.
“Engineers Australia is very excited to be part of the local community and the development of these new engineering degrees,” he said.
Mr Wogan thanked USC, Sunshine Coast Council, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, GHD, Covey, Hall Contracting, Cardno and Parsons Brickenoff for sponsoring the dinner to be held on Friday 28 October.
For more details about the dinner, contact Bill Thew at bill.thew@ghd.com
— Terry Walsh