Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

Industry Based Learning
(Cooperative education)
Bachelor of Applied Science
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 improvesfollowing industrial
experience;
students earn while they learn (recognised rates are paid
during periods of industry based learning);
students work with professionals o n 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
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.
Some students have the opportunity to obtain work experience
overseas. In such cases, academic staff from local educational
institutions visit the students at their places of work. Programs
of exchange with the following institutions have been of
particular value to students:
University of Surrey, England
University of Victoria, Canada
Drexel University, USA
Northeastern University, USA
FachHochschule fur Technik, Mannheim, Germany
Students without permanent resident status should be aware
that industry based learning is not available for certain courses.
In the other courses, it is subiect to the availability of industrial
places and the achievement of a suitable level ofs~nglish
language skills by the student.
While the Division will assist students in finding an industrial
placement, it is frequently impossible to find local employment
for students without permanent resident status because
priority is given to Australian citizens and permanent residents.
Students without permanent resident status are advised to
seek la cement in their home countrv. The Division will ~rovide
information on academic instituti~nska~able of providing
supervision of industrial placement in the home country.
Bachelor of Engineering
Undergraduate courses offered as IBL programs are the
engineering and technology degree courses in civil, electrical
power and control, communication and electronics computer
systems, manufacturing and mechanical engineering and
courses in building surveying. Students are required to
complete twelve months (two semesters) of approved IBL
before becoming eligible for the award of an engineering
degree, a building surveying degree or a bachelor of
technology degree.
Placement of students
Students may take initiatives to secure their own job
placements but before contacting a prospective employer a
student must contact the Cooperative Placement Service, to
determine whether Swinburne has made an approach to the
employer concerned.
Where all reasonable effort to find a job has been made by
both Swinburne and students, but no placement has been
found, the student may apply to hislher Head of School to
reschedule the IBL components of the course.
Students without permanent resident status should be aware
that while the Division will assist them in finding an industrial
placement, it is frequently impossible to find local employment
for students in this category. These students are advised to
seek placement in their home country and the division will
provide information on which academic institutions are able to
provide supervision.
Employing organisations
A large number of companies support the Cooperative
Education Program (IBL) by offering employment to
students from the disciplines of Civil, Electrical/Electronic,
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. These companies
are from the automotive, communications, electronics,
computer, construction, and manufacturing industries and from
local government.
Overseas placement
The Division cooperates with the following universities in
organising overseas placements:
Cleveland State University
Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
University of Surrey, Guildford, England
University of Coventry, England
Bradford University, England
IBL graduates offer employers a
competitive edge
Swinburne Higher Education Sector's IBL programs place
students out in industry, in paid work, where they get the
opportunity to look at the realities of their chosen career
paths. Therefore, when they graduate, they join the employer
with the advantage of having had one year of structured work
experience.