Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University Logo
Motto	Factum per Litteras "Achievement through learning"
Established	1908
Type	Public
Chancellor	Bill Scales, AO
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Linda Kristjanson
Admin. staff	1,422 (2008)
Undergraduates	13,229 (2008)
Postgraduates	5,653 (2008)
Doctoral students	626 (2008)
Other students	33,626 (2008)
Location	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Campus	Urban
Mascot	George Swinburne
Affiliations	ACU, ASAIHL, ECIU, OUA
Website	www.swinburne.edu.au

Swinburne University of Technology is an Australian public dual sector university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908 and achieved university status in June 1992. In 2009 there were 16,030 students enrolled in Higher education and an estimated 14,748 students enrolled in TAFE, including nearly 7000 international students from over 100 different countries.

Swinburne has five campuses in Melbourne at Croydon, Hawthorn, Lilydale, Prahran, Wantirna – and one in Sarawak, Malaysia. As one of only five dual sector institutions in Australia, Swinburne offers both TAFE and higher education qualifications.

Rankings

• On a national scale, Swinburne has been recognised for a number of achievements, including the award as the best TAFE in Australia, winning Large Training Provider of the Year at the 2009 National Training Awards.
• The 2011 Good Universities Guide has rated Swinburne as the best university in Melbourne for teaching quality for past five years (2007–2011). The 2011 Guide also names Swinburne as the best university in Victoria for Generic Skills and gives Swinburne a 5 star rating for Graduate Satisfaction, the best in Victoria for 2011. Swinburne has previously ranked well in this category, being named the best in Melbourne in 2007, 2008 and 2010; four out of the past five years.
• The Good Universities Guide also highlights Swinburne’s strong pathways program, with the guide awarding Swinburne five stars for the category ‘Proportion of students given credit for TAFE studies.’
• Swinburne has consistently rated in the top ten Australian universities by the student-driven Rate Your Uni website. The same site rates Swinburne first in Victoria for access to practical work experience, quality of teaching, and quality of career/employment support.
• Internationally, Swinburne is named amongst the top 500 universities in the world by the prestigious Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Rankings of World Universities, and the Times Higher Education – QS World University Rankings.

Research produced by the Melbourne Institute in 2006 ranked Australian universities across seven main discipline areas: Arts & Humanities, Business & Economics, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Science. For each discipline, Swinburne University of Technology was ranked:

Discipline	R 1	No.	R 2	No.
Arts & Humanities	29	38	21	38
Business & Economics	30	39	22	38
Education	-	35	-	34
Engineering	15	28	18	28
Law	-	29	-	28
Medicine	-	14	-	13
Science	19	38	25	35

• R1 refers to Australian and overseas Academics' rankings in tables 3.1 - 3.7 of the report.
• R2 refers to the Articles and Research rankings in tables 5.1 - 5.7 of the report.
• No. refers to the total number of institutions in the table against which Swinburne University of Technology is compared.

Discipline areas and qualifications

Swinburne is a multidisciplinary institution offering TAFE, undergraduate, postgraduate and research qualifications.

The main discipline areas are:

• Apprenticeships and Traineeships
• Aviation
• Design and Film & TV
• Digital Media
• Engineering and Technology
• Health and Community Services
• Horticulture and Environment
• Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Media and Communications
• Preparatory and English Language Programs
• Science
• Sustainability
• Visual, Performing and Circus Arts

As a dual sector institution, Swinburne offers qualifications across vocational and higher education sectors:

• Short courses
• Certificate I
• Certificate II (includes Pre-apprenticeships)
• Certificate III (includes Apprenticeships)

The 2011 Good Universities Guide has rated Swinburne as the best university in Melbourne for teaching quality for past five years (2007–2011). The 2011 Guide also names Swinburne as the best university in Victoria for Generic Skills and gives Swinburne a 5 star rating for Graduate Satisfaction, the best in Victoria for 2011. Swinburne has previously ranked well in this category, being named the best in Melbourne in 2007, 2008 and 2010; four out of the past five years.

• Certificate IV
• Diploma
• Advanced Diploma
• Associate degree
• Bachelor degree
• Bachelor degree (honours)
• Graduate Certificate
• Graduate Diploma
• Masters degree (course work)
• Masters degree (research)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Teaching style

Swinburne created the Professional Learning Model (PLM) for undergraduate degrees where students are encouraged to ‘learn by doing’ and are given as much exposure to the real working world as possible. The PLM also includes a compulsory career planning unit, “Careers in the Curriculum ” which ensures students have the skills to gain their first professional job.

For TAFE, Swinburne developed the Skills Passport which won the Skills Victoria Training Initiative of the Year Award in 2008. The Skills Passport starts with a record of a student’s existing skills and capabilities and as they progress through their studies, new skills are added and recorded into their own Skills Passport. The Skills Passport aims to show employers that students have the skills to do the job and what added value they will bring with them.

Personalisation

Swinburne is known for offering a personalised approach to their teaching due to a history of smaller class sizes and a focus on hands-on learning. Students are also able to personalise their undergraduate degree through the new Flexible Degree Structure which was introduced into courses at the beginning of 2010. The structure allows students to personalise their degree by choosing subjects across the six faculties to suit their interests and career objectives, adding breadth and depth to their degree.^{[citation needed]}

Flexibility

There are a number of flexible study options for students studying at TAFE and university level, which include online study, part-time classes in the evening and weekend, and summer and winter terms.

Swinburne TAFE has a number of different intakes throughout the year which make it easier for students to start when they want. Higher Education has the two traditional intake periods in February and August, with the option of summer and winter terms for current students to spread out or speed up their studies.

Vocational Education

Swinburne TAFE delivers vocational education to close to an estimated 15,000 students, a majority of which complete their training in the workplace. For the students who study on-campus, work based learning is integrated into courses through practical placement or by working on real work projects. Swinburne TAFE was recognised for its excellence in vocational education and training when it was named Large Training Provider of the Year at the 2009 National Training Awards.

Pathways from TAFE to university

As both a TAFE and a university, Swinburne is able to offer pathways between its TAFE and university courses. Swinburne’s Pathways Direct program has long been giving students the chance to continue on to higher education by awarding TAFE students credit for their previous study into a university degree.

More recently, Swinburne has announced a Guaranteed Entry Scheme where TAFE students are given a guaranteed spot in a university degree when they enrol into a TAFE course and successfully complete it. This scheme has broken new ground in tertiary education as it presents a packaged offer to domestic students, believed to be unlike any other university in Australia.

Structure

Swinburne has six faculties and five TAFE schools.

Faculties

• Faculty of Business and Enterprise
• Faculty of Design
• Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences
• Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale
• Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies
• Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

TAFE Schools

• School of Creative and Service Industries
• School of Business
• School of Engineering, Technology and Trades
• School of Health and Community
• School of Sustainable Futures

Research

Swinburne’s research is highly selective and focuses on particular strengths. As a medium-sized university, Swinburne adopted a strategy to seek excellence in a limited number of areas. The university has committed to investing $250 million in infrastructure and research over four years and in 2009 was awarded $4.4 million by the Australian Research Council for 13 high quality research projects.

Swinburne can boast well-developed research groups in astrophysics, photonics and nanoscience, quantum atom optics, social sciences, design manufacturing engineering, sustainable infrastructure, information and communication technology and neurosciences.

Citations of Swinburne’s research have grown by 250 per cent since 1999, a growth rate which outstrips all the Group of Eight (GO8) universities.

Research Centres and Institutes:

• Brain Sciences Institute
• Business, Work and Ageing Centre for Research
• Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures
• Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing
• Centre for Atom Optics and Ultrafast Spectroscopy
• Centre for Complex Software Systems and Services
• Centre for Enterprise Performance
• Centre for Micro-Photonics
• Centre for Molecular Simulation
• Centre for Software Analysis and Testing
• Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure
• Environment and Biotechnology Centre
• Industrial Research Institute Swinburne
• Institute for Social Research
• Swinburne Psychological, Clinical, Health and Evaluation Centre

Research Groups:

• Australian Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
• Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship
• Asia-Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment
• Centre for Mathematical Modelling
• Centre for New Manufacturing
• Engineering and Science Education Research Group
• Information Security Research (iSECURES) Laboratory
• National Centre for Sustainability
• Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory

The university is a member of five Australian Research Council (ARC) "Centres of Excellence":

• ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Ultrahigh Bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS)
• ARC Centre of Excellence in Coherent X-ray Science
• ARC Centre of Excellence in Creative Industries and Innovation
• ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics

The university is a member of 5 Cooperative Research Centres (CRCS):

Swinburne is a member of five Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). CRCs play an important role in the Australian innovation system, bringing together researchers and research users from universities, the public sector and business.

• CRC for Smart Services
• CRC for Advanced Manufacturing
• CRC for CAST Metals Manufacturing
• CRC for Polymers
• CRC for Advanced Automotive Technology

World class research findings

With an investment of $250 million over four years, Swinburne has begun to make research findings.

• Swinburne researchers discovered that around a quarter of the globular star clusters in our Milky Way are invaders from other galaxies
• Swinburne researches co-discovered 14 new galaxies in two nights
• Swinburne was the first in the world to develop a small, portable, endoscopic two-photon microscope making the technology more accessible for diagnosing cancer
• Swinburne researchers analysed an ‘odd couple’ of stars to confirm that Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity still stands up almost 100 years after it was originally produced
• Swinburne researchers have successfully developed a CD that can hold an amount 20,000 times greater than that on a Blue Ray disc.
• Swinburne researchers have developed a method of in-situ laser resurfacing on power station turbines.

Swinburne Magazine

Swinburne has also developed a publication dedicated to research, The Swinburne Magazine, which is distributed three to four times a year in The Australian and The Age newspapers. The magazine aims to communicate some of the great news stories coming out of Swinburne and increase the awareness of research at the institution.

Notable researchers

• Professor Min Gu:

Swinburne University’s world-class photonics researcher Professor Min Gu was awarded an Australian Laureate Fellowship from the Australian Federal Government in July 2010. Professor Min Gu will use the fellowship to research a ground-breaking petabyte data storage technology which will allow us to dramatically increase the storage capacity of compact discs.

The Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme is administered by the Australian Research Council which will provide $239 million over five years to up to 75 talented researchers.

• Professor Warrick Couch, Professor Karl Glazebrook and Professor Jeremy Mould:

Jeremy Mould, Karl Glazebrook and Warrick Couch, all members of Swinburne’s Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing. are in the top .5 per cent of frequently cited researchers in their field worldwide.

Campuses

Hawthorn

About

The Hawthorn campus is Swinburne’s central campus. It hosts a range of undergraduate and TAFE courses, postgraduate programs, short courses and research. In fact, the campus offers qualifications from a pre-apprenticeship level, right through to PhD qualifications.

The Hawthorn campus is home to Australia's first Graduate School of Entrepreneurship which is the only school in Australia of its kind dedicated to the development of entrepreneurs.

The campus is also the hub of Swinburne’s research activity and training centres and houses research tools including one of the fastest supercomputers in Australia, a 3D Virtual Reality Theatre, and Australia’s first baby-friendly neuroscience laboratory.

Courses available

Hawthorn is a dual sector campus and has the widest range of courses available across all of Swinburne’s campuses. Students can study in the areas of commerce, engineering and technology, information and communication technologies, aviation, arts and social sciences, sustainability, digital media and many more.

Accommodation

There is a range of on-campus accommodation facilities for students at the Hawthorn campus including Swinburne Place Apartments, Swinburne Student Apartments and Swinburne Residential College.

Developments and facilities

There are a number of projects currently under construction at Hawthorn, including the Student Services Hub which is due to be completed at the end of 2010. The Student Services Hub will provide students with state-of-the-art facilities and services including a multi-faith room, computer labs and learning spaces.

The Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC) is also currently under construction and will have a focus on educational and research facilities. The building was recently awarded a 5 Star Green Rating for environment design and performance which highlights Swinburne’s commitment to sustainability. The ATC is due to be completed in early 2011.

Swinburne recently announced they had been awarded $40 million by the Australian Government for a new Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC). This project commenced in October 2010 and be completed by 2013. The building is being designed by Melbourned based Sinclair Knights Merz Architects and Engineers in partnership with UK Based Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

Other facilities on campus include a library, bookshop, cafes, gym, child care, careers and employment services and 24-hour access to computers, learning and recreational spaces.

Prahran campus buildings

Prahran

About

The Prahran campus is known as Swinburne’s ‘arts campus’ and is located right in the heart of cosmopolitan Prahran. The campus is home to the Faculty of Design and the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) and offers Swinburne’s cultural and creative courses across TAFE and university levels.

Prahran Mechanics' Institute - established in 1854; the above building opened in 1915

Courses available

Prahran is also a dual sector campus offering both TAFE and university courses. The renowned Faculty of Design offers undergraduate courses across the areas of communication, industrial, interior and digital media design. The Faculty also offer a degree in film and television and a range of postgraduate programs.

TAFE courses available at Prahran span across the areas of costume for performance, makeup, film and television, performing arts, community services, hospitality, business and many more. The campus is also home to the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) which is the only institute in Australia to offer a degree in circus arts in collaboration with Swinburne.

Developments and facilities

Facilities on the Prahran campus include the David Williamson Theatre, a 119-seat theatre for student productions and exhibitions. Also on campus is one of Swinburne’s two training restaurants, Mecanix. Mecanix is open to the general public and allows Swinburne’s hospitality students to put their skills into practice in a real restaurant environment.

Other facilities on campus include careers and employment services, library, child care, study support, cafes, study and recreational areas.

Lilydale

Lilydale campus.

About

Swinburne’s Lilydale campus is just off the busy Maroondah Highway shopping strip located in Melbourne’s East. The campus is home to the Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale, which is also responsible for delivering Swinburne’s online courses through Open Universities Australia. The campus also offers a range of TAFE courses, including Swinburne’s new TAFE nursing qualification, the Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 nursing) which has its first intake in 2010.

Courses available

Sporting facilities on the Lilydale campus.

The Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale offer undergraduate degrees across the areas of social science, business and communication. There are also a number of postgraduate programs in business, arts and technology.

There is a wide range of TAFE courses available at the Lilydale campus covering areas such as horticulture and environment, health and community services, hospitality, tourism, and event management.

To assist regional students, The Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale introduced a 5-point ATAR (formally ENTER) bonus for VCE applicants in nominated postcodes when they apply for an undergraduate degree at the Lilydale campus. The 5 point bonus is automatically applied when students apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

Accommodation

The Lilydale Student Village has been built specifically for students and consists of 25 self-catering apartments.

Developments and facilities

The campus has recently undergone a transformation with an upgrade to the Lilydale Atrium, a central location within the campus. The Atrium now boasts plenty of student space, including new study rooms, social space and recreational activities.

Facilities on campus include cafes, after hours computer access, student lounges and entertainment areas, facilities hire for conferences and exhibitions, and another of Swinburne’s training restaurants, Mitchell’s View.

Croydon

About

The Croydon campus is a TAFE specific campus located 27 kilometres east of Melbourne city. The campus has a particular focus on youth programs such as the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), VET in VCE and First Stop, a free advisory service relating to further education. The campus also offers purpose built facilities for apprenticeship students.

Courses available

The campus offers TAFE courses in business, building and construction, children’s services, community services, computing, recreation and social sciences.

Developments and facilities

Swinburne’s Green Trades Complex has recently been completed at the Croydon campus. The Complex allows Swinburne to lead initiatives for green training and help Australian industries make the transition to a low-carbon economy. Swinburne received a $10 million grant from the Australian Federal Government as part of the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund (TLCF) for Vocational Education and Training (VET). The Green Trades Complex was completed in June 2010.

Croydon is also home to the Building Barns which were built specifically for practical training. Students have the facilities to get involved in hands-on projects involving painting and decorating, carpentry and bricklaying trade skills.

The Centre for Health and Wellbeing is also located at Croydon. The Centre aims to create a healthy state by developing a well trained workforce and providing flexible training in health and wellbeing throughout Victoria.

There are also conference facilities on campus with training rooms, catering and the latest audio visual equipment for hire .

Wantirna

National Centre for Sustainability at the Wantirna campus.

About

Wantirna is being established as a ‘green campus’ and is home to the TAFE Department of Horticulture and Environment and the National Centre for Sustainability. The campus is also well known for its beautiful gardens, green houses and the new landscape building. Like Croydon, Wantirna is a TAFE specific campus.

Courses available

Courses range from apprenticeships to advanced diploma level and are delivered in areas such as arts, business, commerce and management, engineering and technology, horticulture and environment and information and communication technologies.

The TAFE Arts Department at Wantirna offers visual art, fine art, visual merchandising and product design exclusively at the Wantirna campus, as well as multimedia and graphic design.

The Department of Horticulture and Environment offer courses for a range of careers such as arborists, landscape designers and nursery, parks and gardens staff. The campus is also home to mechanical and automotive courses which use the latest in automotive and training equipment.

Developments and facilities

The campus offers facilities such as careers and employment services, study support, child care, library, and sport and recreation.

Sarawak, Malaysia

Main article: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

The Sarawak campus is located in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. There are nearly 3000 students currently enrolled at Swinburne Sarawak. The degrees offered are similar to those offered by Swinburne's home campuses in Melbourne making it easy for students to study abroad across the Melbourne and Sarawak campuses.

Internationalisation

Swinburne offers students the opportunity to gain an international experience as part of their studies. They offer students study tours, exchange programs, overseas internships, or a semester spent at their Sarawak campus. Swinburne has one of the highest student mobility rates of any university in Australia due to the focus on exposing students to an international environment and practices so they are able to work both nationally and internationally.

In 2000, Swinburne partnered with the State Government of Sarawak, Malaysia to form an international branch campus in Kuching. In May 2010, the Sarawak campus was awarded self-accreditation status by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, confirming Swinburne’s reputation as an internationally recognised provider of higher education. Not long after in July, Swinburne Sarawak was ranked in the top tier of universities in Malaysia according to the 2009 MQA Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (Setara).

Overseas students began studying at Swinburne in the 1950s, which has since grown to nearly 7,000 international students from more than 100 different countries today.

Swinburne abroad

Swinburne has exchange arrangements with over 80 institutions around the world. In 2009, Swinburne supported almost 450 students who were undertaking an international work or learning experience.

Some of Swinburne’s partner institutions include:

• University of Southern Denmark (Denmark)
• China University of Mining and Technology (China)
• Drury University (US)
• Western Michigan University (US)
• University of Leicester (UK)
• Jonkoping University(Sweden)
• Kansai Gaidai University (Japan)
• McGill University (Canada)

Global Leadership Program and Global Financial Management Program

Swinburne has also established partnerships with Northeastern University in Boston, USA and Northumbria University in the United Kingdom to offer an international dual master qualification, known as the Global Leadership Program. These programs are a landmark agreement which gives students a unique opportunity to earn two masters degrees in two years, one from each institution.

In-country offices

Swinburne has also established offices overseas in China, Vietnam and India. Staff members who work in these offices are representatives of Swinburne working permanently in these countries. These staff can give students information about courses, support services and provide one-to-one counselling.

European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU)

In 2004, Swinburne was accepted into the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) and is the only Australian member. The ECIU is a consortium of research universities who have a focus on collaboration in innovative teaching and learning, enhancement of university-society interaction, internationalisation of student and staff experience and active engagement in policy development and practice.

Community Colleges for International Development (CCID)

In 2006, Swinburne became a member of the Community Colleges for International Development (CCID). This membership provides a range of opportunities primarily for TAFE, including access to far-reaching networks, programs and services. The membership also looks at the development and delivery of international capacity building projects and student mobility programs.

Connections with industry

Swinburne has a long reputation and strong links with business and industry. Representatives from industry and professional associations sit on the course advisory committee of every program. Swinburne pioneered the Industry-Based Learning (IBL) program in 1963 and became the first education institution to introduce a program which placed undergraduates in vocational paid employment as part of their course. The IBL program is the longest running in Australia and in 2009 there were over 700 IBL students working across 350 businesses.

Swinburne has engaged with a number of businesses and industry such as:

• Boeing
• Jetstar Airways
• Ford Motor Company
• Visy Australia
• Telstra
• Toll Holdings
• The Australian Football League (AFL)
• Parks Victoria

Other centres and group

• The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA)
• Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Investment and Philanthropy
• Centre for Electronic Financial Services
• Centre for Mathematical Modelling
• Centre for New Manufacturing
• Centre for Regional Development
• National Centre for Sustainability

Sustainability and sustainable practices

Swinburne is embracing sustainability and is exploring initiatives and opportunities through research and education. The university has developed a Sustainability Strategy and an Environmental Management System to set the direction for best practice standards across all campuses and curriculum. Currently, Swinburne has embedded sustainability practices into the teaching of 52 TAFE qualifications, with more to come.

Part of Swinburne’s commitment to sustainability can be seen through the National Centre for Sustainability (NCS), a collaboration of several education institutions dedicated to the development and promotion of sustainability and education, hosted by Swinburne. The $12.2 million NCS building includes a 90,000 litre water tank for harvesting rain water, solar panels and natural ventilation and lighting systems. Swinburne was the first Australian university to sign a sustainability covenant with the Environmental Protection Authority, Victoria. The university has also embedded sustainability in teaching and learning through the Diploma of Sustainability, a course which can be undertaken concurrently on top of existing study.

In 2010, Swinburne was awarded a 5 Star Green Rating for the new Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC) currently under construction at the Hawthorn campus, recognising environment al design and performance. The Green Trades Complex is also currently under construction at the Croydon campus which will have the capability to train 10,000 new apprentices to meet the demand for green trades.

Student life

Students on campus

Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA)

The Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA) is a service providing organisation at Swinburne. The SSAA provide a range of services and activities at Swinburne to encourage socialisation between all students across Swinburne’s campuses.

The SSAA are responsible for running orientation activities, organising and supporting clubs and societies, representing the student body and providing academic advice and advocacy.

The SSAA are well known across all five campuses for providing great entertainment, free lunches and activities throughout the year.

Student clubs

Swinburne has over 80 student clubs and societies to suit a wide range of student interests. The SSAA supports clubs and also assists students who want to set up a new club or society.

The Swinburne Celtic Club, Swin Labor Club and Swinburne Punjabi Club are three of the most active clubs at Swinburne. 3SSR Swinburne Student Radio is one of the oldest clubs, running for over 35 years. Among the clubs and societies representing students from certain countries, include clubs relating to study areas, such as the Swinburne Aviation Club and the Swinburne Undergraduate Psychology Association (SUPA).

Swinburne sporting clubs

Swinburne University Sport and Recreation run sporting clubs for all students in the following areas:

• Akido
• Badminton
• Explorers (Outdoor recreation)
• Football
• Hockey
• Kung Fu
• Snow sports
• Soccer
• Table tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tang Soo Do
• Waterski and wakeboard

Swinburne Student Union (SSU)

Swinburne Student Union (SSU), is the independent student representative body of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Membership is opt-in for all Swinburne students.

Swinburne Student Union has not been funded by the University since 2006 which has resulted in the unusual situation of the University operating student advocacy itself through a wholly owned subsidiary, the Swinburne Student Amenities Association.

In 2011 Swinburne Student Union is enjoying a resurgence in interest and membership, with over 700 members joining in the first half of 2011. SSU offers its members free printing, free breakfast, parties and events as well as representation and advice by students, for students.

Moving forward Swinburne Student Union will be campaigning for a return of student control of student affairs.

History

Swinburne was established as the Eastern Suburbs Technical College by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908. The aim was to offer technical education to people in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The first courses taught represented the interests of the time which were carpentry, plumbing and gas fitting.

By 1913, the institution had changed its name to Swinburne Technical College to commemorate its founder.

After World War II, Swinburne Technical College expanded to include mechanical and electrical engineering, chemistry, television and film and computer programming. The 1960s saw the first international transition course established in response to an increase in overseas students. The 1960s was also the time when Swinburne began to think and develop academic study with industrial experience, which led to the Industry-Based Learning program still in place today.

In the late 1980s the Federal Government was pushing out an education revolution which resulted in Swinburne being granted university status in 1992. Swinburne was to continue focusing on delivering education to Melbourne’s outer east and would be positioned as an inter-sectoral university of technology.

On 1 July 1992, Swinburne was proclaimed a university and its first Chancellor was self-made businessman and philanthropist, Richard Pratt.

In 1998, Swinburne continued to grow in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and amalgamated with the Outer Eastern College of TAFE to run courses across five campuses which make up Swinburne today: Croydon, Hawthorn, Lilydale, Prahran and Wantirna.

In 2000, Swinburne open an international campus is Sarawak, Malaysia.

Notable alumni

Arts

• Sidney Nolan: artist
• Ray Crooke: artist
• Michael Leunig: cartoonist
• Graeme Base: Children's author and illustrator, whose works include Animalia (1986) and The Eleventh Hour (1988)
• Philomena Tan: author
• John Raciti, Designer; Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London. Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission for Australia & Oceania

Film & Television

• Geoffrey Wright: film director, Cherry Falls (2000), Romper Stomper (1992)
• Alkinos Tsilimidos: film director, Tom White (2004), Everynight ... Everynight (1994)
• Gillian Armstrong: film director, Little Women (1994), My Brilliant Career (1979)
• Richard Lowenstein: film director, He Died With A Felafel In His Hand (2001), Dogs In Space (1986)
• Sarah Watt: film director and writer, Look Both Ways (2005)
• Jamie Blanks: film director, Long Weekend (2008), Urban Legend (1998)
• Mark Hartley: film director, Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)
• Stephen Amis: director, See Jack Run (1994), The Alive Tribe (1997)
• Tony Ayres: director, The Home Song Stories (2007), Walking on Water (2002)
• Jill Bilcock: film editor, Moulin Rouge! (2001), Romeo + Juliet (1996)

The above are graduates of the original Swinburne Film and Television School - established in 1966 at the then Swinburne Technical College the Swinburne Film and Television School, staff and programmes were transferred to the Victorian College of the Arts on 1 January 1992.

As the VCA School of Film and Television the school remained at Hawthorn until 1 July 1994 when it moved into a dedicated Federally-funded Film and Television building on the VCA Southbank campus. The VCA School of Film and Television continues to deliver both undergraduate and postgraduate programs based on those developed during its years at Swinburne (http://www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/ftv) and is a School of the University of Melbourne's Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (http://vca-mcm.unimelb.edu.au/).

• Kathy Bowlen: Former ABC News presenter, journalist
• Kylie Matulick: Won a Emmy Award for most outstanding TV Commercial to her 2009 ad "Coke Heist"

Sports

• Mark Bolton: Australian Football League player for Essendon Football Club
• Alisa Camplin: aerial skier and Olympian
• Steve Stubbings: English Cricketer who plays for Derbyshire County Cricket Club

Other

• Reg Ansett: founder of the now defunct airline Ansett Australia
• Mark Korda: Founder KordaMentha, Ansett administrator
• Keith Warburton: lobbyist
• Domenic Carosa : CEO Destra Corporation
• Andrew Scott Haddow: Engineer
• James Willshire Harris: Director of JCT Systems Pty. Ltd.

See also

• National Institute of Circus Arts
• Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus