Engineering at Macquarie: An unrivalled gateway to industry

“Art without engineering is dreaming. Engineering without art is calculating.” – Steven Roberts

Known to be a hub of inspired and unconstrained thinking, Macquarie University is firmly rooted in complex issues that shape our future. The University began its bold exploration of the higher education world in 1964, building on a distinctive, progressive and transformational foundation. It has since made great strides and gone on to receive international recognition, consistently ranking in the top 10 in the nation, and in the top two percent of universities worldwide.

Led by the spirit of excellence and innovation, Macquarie’s Faculty of Science and Engineering does not shy away from the pressing challenges of our time. From Biological Sciences, to Statistics, to Earth and Planetary Sciences, Computing, Engineering and beyond, Macquarie provides the world-class training and tools needed to succeed in any professional science-based discipline.

Much like the rest of this leading institution, the Department of Engineering is committed to excellence in every sense of the word, from its research to its learning and teaching, all the way up to powerful engagement with industry. With an emphasis on supported learning in undergraduate and graduate provisions, Macquarie offers an integrated, cross-disciplinary program that offers the opportunity to concentrate your studies in electronics, software engineering, mechatronics, mechanical engineering and telecommunications.  Biomedical and electrical programs will be available in the near future.

Macquarie’s dedication to student and industry engagement certainly makes it stand out in the crowd, with innovative strategies like the Professional and Community Engagement – or PACE – program, specifically-designed for all BEng Engineering participants. “PACE is a program unique to Macquarie that takes students out of the lecture theatre and places them in the heart of their chosen careers,” the institution notes.

“Through PACE, students have the opportunity to contribute before they graduate, thereby producing well-rounded men and women who can effectively apply their ideas in the real world,” it explains. “PACE doesn’t just produce better graduates; it produces better people.”

With an Engineering curriculum intently focused on industry, paired with unmissable practical opportunities such as those available through PACE, students have the chance to gain invaluable professional experience on a local, regional, or even global scale. The program gives students the chance to soak up the real-world knowledge and expertise that prove invaluable to graduate employers, enhancing student employability from within a professional engineering environment.

To demonstrate this in action, one former student implemented and extended the vibrational testing of a partner’s new development products; not only did this require a solid understanding of the theory behind how shock and vibration can be used to test hearing aid devices – technical skills that are profitable within an engineering setting – but it also required the student to provide feedback on mechanical design and how to improve product strength and reliability. Such in-depth technical know-how would prove desirable to any graduate recruiter.

Image courtesy of Macquarie University

On top of giving students exposure to problem definition, solution implementation, project management and teamwork, the program instils sought-after graduate competency skills that helps them meet the requirements needed for entry to Engineers Australia.

Last year’s undergraduate intake for Engineering at Macquarie were also the first to benefit from the Optus Cadetship strategy. The program is tailored to grow Australia’s future talent in the discipline through the development of highly skilled, motivated engineers who embrace positive work values and cultures, and are passionate about their field.

Optus Engineering cadet students pursue and complete a four-year program, and also undertake a combination of full-time University study at Macquarie on top of a paid work experience position at the Macquarie Park Optus Campus. Upon successful completion of the program, cadets will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering degree, fully-accredited by Engineers Australia, while full-time employment opportunities within Optus’ networks division will be provided based on merit. Students must note that there’s a clear residency requirement to be eligible for this program, so be sure to conduct some thorough research to make sure you fit the bill before submitting your application.

Seeking to meet global demand that requires more women in professional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) roles, Macquarie stands as an advocate for diversity and equality in these fields, fostering several innovative strategies to encourage more women to take lead and shine. As a testament to the Department’s success in producing female STEM student achievers, Sumiya Sultan, who graduated from Macquarie last year with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Electronics, was recently awarded the NSW International Student of the Year Award in Higher Education.

The award, organised by StudyNSW within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, recognises outstanding contributions made by international students to communities in NSW. Sumiya, however, was not solely recognised for the strength of her academic endeavours, but also for the contribution she continues to make in efforts to help others and add value to her community.

Image courtesy of Macquarie University

As the driving force behind the establishment of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) initiative on the Macquarie campus, Sumiya is both motivating and empowering women in STEM, providing them with a sense of ownership and importance they may not have previously been able to find.

“In my first class there was only six or seven women and I knew this had to change so I established the women and science engineering group at Macquarie University,” she says. “After moving to NSW, I have become more grounded in what I believe and I want to work towards empowering women to go up there and give it all they’ve got.

“Within a few months, the group grew to 82 members,” the former student concludes. “Now, the success of our group has allowed us to access external funding sources that would otherwise not be available, and I lead a team of eight executive members.”

Standing at the forefront of academic adventure and discovery, Macquarie represents a stand-out institution in Australia and the world. And with its Engineering students consistently raising the bar to new and exciting heights, it makes sense that recruiters view Macquarie’s engineering graduates with the utmost respect as they also hope to harness their unparalleled potential.

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