1997 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

Swinburne today
Swinburne has a strong reputation in Australia and
overseas as a provider of career orientated education and as
a University with a commitment to research. The
University maintains a strong technology base and
important links with industry, complemented by a
number of innovative specialist research centres which
attract a great deal of international interest.
A feature of many Swinburne undergraduate courses is the
applied vocational emphasis and direct industry
application through Industry Based Learning (IBL)
programs. Swinburne was a pioneer of IBL, a program
which places students directly in industry for vocational
employment as an integral part of the course structure.
Swinburne is now one of a few Australian universities
whose responsibilities span the range of programs from
apprenticeships to PhDs. In keeping with this breadth of
involvement, the University continues to play a leading
role in creating new approaches to integration between
sectors.
The creation of study pathways between sectors and
courses is firmly in place at Swinburne. Current pathways
involve moving either from the TAFE sector into Higher
Education or from TAFE based VCE studies into full
TAFE courses. A limited number of pathways are
available for students to move from degree courses into
TAFE studies, and this will increase in the future. This
process of articulation provides students with greater
flexibility to complete tertiary qualifications.
Teaching and learning enhancement is a strategic priority
for the University, and Swinburne is committed to the
transfer of lifelong learning skills.
Swinburne was founded to provide expanded and more
convenient educational opportunities to the residents in
the 'outer east' of Melbourne. Due to expansion of the
city during the intervening years between establishment
and transition to university status, Swinburne's operations
are now conducted at four campuses: Hawthorn, Lilydale,
Mooroolbark and Prahran. While focusing on its regional
responsibilities, Swinburne is heavily involved in
international initiatives and plays a significant part in the
internationalisation of Australia's tertiary education
system.
Mission statement
To provide a continuum of education opportunities from
initial vocational education and training to postgraduate
masters and doctoral degrees and to support the
community it services, through research, consultancy and
continuing education.
University Assembly
The University Assembly provides a regular open forum
for the discussion of issues and ideas of significant interest
to the University community.
The University statute formally establishing the
University Assembly sets out its membership and terms of
reference. Its membership includes all staff and students of
the University.
Meetings of the University Assembly are normally held
twice a year. Notice of each meeting and an invitation to
submit items for discussion are conveyed to the University
community at least one month before the meeting. Details
are usually published in the 73e Swine, the newspaper
published by the Swinburne Student Union.
Teaching Sectors
Swinburne has two teaching sectors under the control of
one Council: the Higher Education Sector and the
Technical and Further Education Division (TAFE).
Higher Education Sector
The Higher Education Sector offers professional
qualifications ranging from degrees of Bachelor to graduate
qualifications (certificates, diplomas and degrees of Master
and PhD).
The Higher Education Sector comprises two divisions: the
Division of Business, Humanities and Social Science
(which incorporates the previous faculties of Business and
Arts) and the Division of Science, Engineering and Design
(incorporating the previous faculties of Applied Science
and Engineering and the School of Design).
A total of 9 872 students were enrolled in the Higher
Education Sector in 1996, made up of 5 972 full-time
students and 3 900 part-time students.
Technical and Further Education Division
CTAFE)
The TAFE Division offers courses at professional and
para-professional level covering diploma, certificate,
apprenticeship, VCE and access programs. A number of
specialist courses are also provided for industry and the
community.
The TAFE Division is made up of three schools: the
School of Business and Information Systems, the School of
Engineering and Industrial Science and the School of Social
Sciences and Arts.
A total of 12 125 students were enrolled into TAFE
courses in 1996, made up of 2 606 full-time and 5 519 parttime
students, and over 4 000 full-fee and short course
students.
I
Swinburne Universiiy of Technology 1997 Handbook