Mission Statement
School Mission
The mission for the School of Engineering is to become an academic unit which embodies the following attributes:
- well balanced across all of the disciplines of engineering with cooperation and interaction across the disciplines;
- high quality and innovative teaching;
- demonstrated research strengths in each discipline at an internationally competitive level;
- demonstrated community involvement through responsible provision of technical expertise.
We expect that:
- our teaching programs will be amongst the best in Australia, and competitive internationally, and embody state-of-the-art engineering knowledge as well as established engineering practice;
- our graduates will meet the needs of the region by gaining a relevant education and applicable skills;
- our graduates will leave us with a respect for knowledge, a recognition of the need for lifelong learning, and the confidence built by a comprehensive education which includes a responsible approach to the social, cultural and environmental issues facing the community;
- our staff will be active, with excellent teaching and research track records, and foster meaningful interaction with local industry, schools and the community.
School values
We believe that our education programs are characterised by the following values:
- engineering undergraduates are best served by programs that offer a broad foundation of engineering science as well as a sound knowledge of a speciality;
- interaction among students in a class environment are essential to engineering education;
- interaction between staff and students is better fostered in a small group learning environment;
- our staff should be readily accessible by students, and are responsive to issues raised by students;
School Profile
The School of Engineering comprises the traditional areas of Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Electronic, and Mechanical Engineering, together with Computer Systems Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. Undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Engineering) are offered in all of the six engineering specialisations. The School has staff to teach in all of these discipline areas. Joint degree programs are available between all engineering disciplines and most science majors. A Certificate of Introductory Engineering is available as an introductory study program for mature age students wishing to consider entering University.
The School offers the postgraduate awards of Master of Engineering Science (research and thesis) Master of Engineering Management (course work and project) and Doctor of Philosophy (research and thesis). Particular areas of research strength include coastal and reef engineering, computational mechanics, sugar process engineering, environmental fluid mechanics and communications.
The School also is responsible for the Cyclone Structural Testing Station, a self funding body which undertakes R&D for the building industry with particular reference to high wind engineering.
The degree courses are designed to challenge the intellect of the student while simultaneously producing graduates competent to perform professional duties immediately on leaving the University. The aim is to produce graduates with a sound understanding of the fundamentals, an ability for independent thinking and learning and experience in the process and practice of design.
Staffing
Staffing in the School presently consists of 34.5 FTE academic, general and technical staff, excluding sessional staff.
Student by level and source
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | |
| HECs U/G (EFTSU) | 323.0 | 353.8 | 352.8 | 358.6 |
| HECS P/G (EFTSU) | 17.9 | 17.8 | 15.5 | 17.5 |
| FFP U/G (EFTSU) | 17.2 | 15.2 | 11.9 | 8.9 |
| FFP P/G (EFTSU) | 3.3 | 5.19 | 4.3 | 3.7 |
| Other (EFTSU) | - | - | 1.5 | 3.6 |
| Total EFTSU | 361.4 | 392.0 | 386.0 | 392.3 |
Research performance:
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
| Total Income ($Millions) | 1.42 | 1.46 | 1.78 | 2.43 |
Key goals and strategic objectives 2001-2003
Teaching and learning
- Maintain the quality of our undergraduate programs relative to other institutions;
- Improve student numbers in the smaller programs to provide more balance across the discipline groups;
- Develop more subjects common across the discipline groups;
- Continue and strengthen the process of staff student consultative meetings.
- Increase the number of MEM coursework students from 2 to 10 by 2003
Research and research training targets
- Improve the throughput of PhD and MengSc students to achieve a maximum stay of 3.5 and 2 years respectively;
- Increase the number of HECS research student EFTSU from 17.5 to 30 by 2004, subject to the availability of RTS places;
- Continue the increase in total research funding to achieve $2.5 M by 2004;
- Increase the number of NCG's.
Internationalisation
- Increase FFP undergraduate numbers to 20 by 2003;
- Increase FFP postgraduate numbers to 10 by 2003;
- Increase the number of Study Abroad students;
- Improve international research links.
Quality assurance
- Continue to improve quality assurance measures consistent with the accreditation requirements of the Institute of Engineers Australia.
Community interaction
- Strengthen our relationship with the Institution of Engineers Australia;
- Continue our community links with a number of high schools in the Townsville and Cairns regions;
- Provide expert opinions and consultancy services to the local industry and community.