Teaching and Learning

Flexible, hands-on learning

In the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, our teaching and learning is characterised by a student-centred approach. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and are supported in a variety of flexible ways, including lectures, tutorials, seminars, problem based learning, computer simulations, laboratory practicals and other related activities.

Supporting staff development initiatives

Our commitment to teaching excellence is reflected in the initiatives we have put in place for our staff in the following areas:

  • We support our staff in continuing professional development of their teaching. The internet and related electronic media provide significant opportunities for changed patterns of teaching and learning, and necessitate staff upgrading their skills from time to time.
  • The close engagement that many of our staff members have with industry means that they focus on industry priorities in the delivery of their courses. This synergy between industry and academics benefits students as they prepare for the world of work. We support this active engagement of staff with industry through their research and consulting activities.

Exposing students to the latest industry practices

We are committed to ensuring that our students have a high quality learning experience, whatever their degree program. Our students benefit from the research excellence that is the hallmark of this Faculty. Lecturers engage students in learning activities that expose them to the latest techniques and practices, equipping them with relevant and current knowledge and understanding.

New technologies for communication and e-learning

We recognise that many of our students are highly computer literate and have introduced e-learning tools such as Blackboard and Lectopia to support their activities on campus and at home. Our Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) is offered online, and students can choose where to study - either on campus, or at a location of their choosing. Our Masters of Property program is delivered by distance learning and provides students with similar flexible ways to combine work and study.

Our students are equipped for the real world

In addition, we offer a range of Masters programs which are taught on campus. These programs maintain close links with industry. Our Faculty equips students with problem solving skills attuned to the diverse challenges they are likely to experience on graduation.

The best resources for research

We ensure that undergraduate, postgraduate coursework, and research students are all provided with high quality resources. Information technology plays a key role research, and our Faculty provides excellent computer resources. All research students require supervision and our Faculty has extensive expertise in this regard. We are able to support activities covering a wide spectrum of engineering activities.

Education of professionals

Our faculty teaches students in 37 programs across our Callaghan campus. In addition, several of these programs are offered at our Singapore campus. We are committed to providing a high quality, professionally-focused educational experience across all these areas.

An award-winning faculty

Finally, our faculty has enjoyed the success of recent teaching and learning awards to:

  • A/Prof. Frans Henskens who received a Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006
  • Ms Chris Landorf who received a Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2007
  • Associate Prof. Behdad Moghtaderi who received a Carrick Citation Award For Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2006 and a Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2006
  • Willy Sher who received a Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2006 and the Ronald Albert Swane Award for Excellence in University Teaching from the Australian Institute of Building in 2007
  • A/Prof. Tony Williams who received a Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2006
  • Dr Graham Brewer who received a Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2007
  • Dr Huilin Ye who received a Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in 2007
  • A/Prof. Frans Henskens who received a Quality Teaching Award from the NSW Minister for Education and Training and The Australian College of Educators, NSW Branch, 2007.
  • Prof. Steffen Lehmann who has received a Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence in the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, 2007.
  • Mr Thayaparan Gajendran, Associate Professor Tony Williams & Ms Debbie Booth University Libraries - For engaging students in the development of academic integrity graduate attributes through development and implementation of an innovative student-centred online-learning module 2008.
  • Associate Professors Bill McBride and Phil Clausen received the 2008 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence and Learning Support and the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence in the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment.

These are significant achievements of which we are proud.