International operations

Our international research links, our teaching partnerships and our study abroad programs are by no means peripheral activities. On the contrary, we appreciate that our international activities form a key part of our operations and will continue to develop and evolve as the world changes.

As a Faculty, we have a clear international vision, and we offer a place of opportunity to all current and prospective students. Whether you wish to broaden your mind, advance your career, increase your knowledge, or travel the globe, our Faculty can provide you with the opportunities and skills to do so!

Our alumni achieve on an international stage and include luminaries such as Disney Technical Director Yasser Hamed, maritime expert Dato’ Ir Dr Abu Bakar Jaafar and The Hague’s chemical inspector Dr Awni Al-Otoom. We strive to develop globally aware experts, who operate in their workplaces with a critical appreciation of the various global issues and processes occurring within dynamically changing environments: global citizens who are sensitive to cultural diversity.

An international experience

Our students have an opportunity to become involved in a range of study abroad and exchange programs with our international partner universities. Popular institutions with strengths in our area include Calgary University in Canada (civil engineering), Northern Arizona University (civil engineering and construction management), Arizona University (architecture), New Mexico University (architecture) and Norway’s Oslo School of Architecture. As well as this, various short programs and exchange opportunities are available through the University’s Study Abroad and iLead programs.

Since 2010, Architecture students have had an opportunity to undertake a travel and sketching based course to Greece and Italy, led by Dr Steven Fleming. The three-week intensive program aims to provide students with a grounding in their disciplines’ history by taking in key sites in the evolution of the Classical tradition followed by key sites of the Byzantine, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment also offers several offshore programs at our PSB Singapore campus. These programs enable holders of relevant Diplomas from approved Polytechnics to upgrade to a Bachelor degree in Engineering while they continue to work. The Faculty has had a long association with Singapore, especially through the Colombo Plan starting in the 1960's and a number of graduates from the Faculty now hold senior positions in Singapore's government, industry, business and educational institutions.

Creating a global community

Our academics are at the cutting edge of their fields of research and their strong research performance attracts high levels of funding and the latest in technology. Our staff are engaged with the international community, having completed their degrees, researched and worked in a range of countries and educational institutions. We also invite an international experience by holding guest lectures and welcoming visiting Professors.

We currently have over 600 international students studying within our Faculty who hail from diverse backgrounds across the world. Our international students enjoy the opportunity to study in a highly stimulating and safe environment. Student support is provided through orientation events, social activities, administrative help and dedicated International Student Mentors.

As a research-intensive Faculty we integrate our teaching, learning and student experiences into international terrain through extensive overseas linkages. We are able to offer this important international perspective because of the depth and breath of our research project collaborations. The Australian Research Council Discovery projects we are involved in all contain international collaboration components and our research linkages also include over 50 agreements with overseas academic and research institutions, tailored to enhance activities within a specific area or research group.

These linkages cover collaboration within Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Europe, the Americas and Africa. Maintaining such truly global linkages gives our students and staff excellent opportunities for sharing experiences and knowledge with cutting-edge institutions. Just one example of international collaboration within the Faculty is our agreement with the hi-tech Fraunhofer based research institute in Spain (VocomTech in San Sebastian). Over the past two years this agreement has allowed six research visits to Europe for our PhD students and researchers from the area of Smart Knowledge Engineering, as well as three reciprocal visits from Spain. It is through such exchanges that our 50-plus operational agreements and linkages offer enormous benefits to our students and staff.