1997 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

helping meet society's needs, such as energy usage and
environmental issues;
designing and creating solutions, such as with manufactured
products, structures and community services.
Social and career-oriented activities are coordinated with the
National Centre for Women and provide opportunities for
women to interact.
Women who would like further information about the
applied science and engineering degree programs and career
opportunities should contact the Divisional Office on (03)
9214 8263 or National Centre for Women on (03) 9214
8633. Ms Pam Roberts, Equity Adviser on (03) 9214 8510.
Mentor scheme
Each first-year undergraduate student is allocated to a
particular member of staff who is known as the student's
mentor. These mentors are responsible for guidance on
student difficulties, programs, exemptions and reenrolments.
Industry Based Learning
General
Industry based learning (IBL), is a development process that
combines the rigour of an accredited academic program with a
period of paid, supervised and relevant experience in the
workplace. This work is an integral part of assessment for the
degree qualification.
A feature of most of the undergraduate courses offered in the
Division of Science, Engineering and Design is their IBL format.
These courses include components of paid work experience
which form an integral part of the education program.
Benefits
Students who undertake an IBL course derive many benefits
from their involvement in the program. Some of these are:
academic performance improves following industrial
experience;
students earn while they learn (recognised rates are paid
during periods of industry based learning);
students work with professionals on real industrial
problems under authentic conditions using theoretical
concepts learnt in the classroom;
students are able to sample particular areas of the chosen
branch of their profession before graduation;
industry based learning gained during the course is an
advantage when graduates are seeking their first jobs.
Supervision
While in IBL, students are supervised by their employers and
a member of the Division's academic staff who acts as the
student's industrial tutor.
Bachelor of Applied Science
The Division of Science, Engineering and Design is
committed to cooperative education and the placement of
students in industry based learning. Most programs offered
by the Division are structured to be delivered in the
industry based learning (IBL) format.'Therefore, it is
expected that students will take the opportunity to
participate in an approved industry based learning program.
Students who have already worked in industry and gained
relevant experience may be eligible for an exemption from IBL.
Students are permitted to take initiatives to secure their own
industry based learning placements only with the approval
of the appropriate Cooperative Course Coordinator. The
placement and supervision arrangements must have the
prior approval of the Cooperative Course Coordinator.
Where all reasonable effort to find an IBL position has been
made by the Division and the student, but no la cement has
been found, the student may apply to the appropriate Head
of School to consider the possibility of rescheduling the
industry based learning component(s) of the course.
Where industry based learning places are limited,
opportunities for placement will normally be allocated on
the basis of academic merit.
If no placement is found before the academic component of
the course is completed and the requirement to complete
IBL is waived, then the student will be allowed to graduate.
The testamur, however, will not contain the wording 'a
four/five year program in the cooperative education
format'.
Students without permanent resident status should be aware
that IBL may not be available for certain courses. In the
other courses, it is subject to the availability of industrial
places and the achievement of a suitable level of English
language skills by the student.
While the Division will assist students in finding an
industrial placement, it is often not possible to find local
employment for students without permanent resident status
because priority is often given to Australian citizens and
permanent residents.
Students without permanent resident status may in
consultation with the appropriate Cooperative Coordinator
seek placement in their home country. The Division will
endeavour to provide information on academic institutions
capable of providing supervision of industrial placements in
their home country.
* Certain programs, such as in Computer Science or in
Psychology/Psychophysiology, have been designed to run
without industry based learning.
Bachelor of Applied Science courses offered as four year
programs in the Division of Science, Engineering and Design
are run in the IBL format and include three years of academic
study plus one year of paid industry based learning. The IBL
is an integral part of the academic program and makes up part
of the final assessment.
Swinburne Univeniiy of Technology 1997 Handbook 1 1 3