Students in Swinburne’s new course will develop industry-leading visualisation and digital construction skills in partnership with global technology companies.
There is a high demand for digital construction skills around the world, and it’s only going to increase. It’s why Swinburne University of Technology is introducing Australia’s first digital construction degree, the Bachelor of Digital Construction Management. With an innovative focus on digital aspects of construction and design, the university plans to provide a pipeline of talent to support Australia’s future infrastructure projects.
Students will have access to some of the industry’s latest high-end technologies and digital construction tools. They will gain practical hands-on knowledge working with building information modelling, digital twins, virtual reality models, automation, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing. A range of industry partners will also offer valuable experience through industry-based projects and work-integrated learning opportunities.
Students will also benefit from Swinburne’s strategic partnerships with a number of global tech firms, providing them with opportunities to train on best practice digital construction hardware and software technologies.
The future demand for digital construction skills is high around the world. Globally, an estimated 75 per cent of the infrastructure that humans will need by 2050 does not currently exist, according to a 2016 report by multinational infrastructure group Balfour Beatty. Here in Australia, the federal government has set aside more than $110 billion dollars for infrastructure projects over the next ten years alone.
“For the past few decades, the construction industry has been lagging behind in the innovation and productivity gains seen across other industries in Australia, but that is now changing,” says Associate Professor Palaneeswaran Ekambaram from the School of Engineering and director of the new study program at Swinburne.
“Our new Digital Construction Management degree will produce digitally capable talent with visualisation and construction smarts to help progress the industry here in Australia and around the world.”
The Civil Engineering program at Swinburne is one of the world’s most respected, having been ranked 78th globally and 9th in Australia by the 2021 Shanghai Academic Ranking of Universities.
“Our department already offers a really strong postgraduate program in construction management and a highly rated civil engineering course,” says Professor Hussein Dia, Chair for the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Swinburne.
“With this new study program, we’re making digital capabilities the focus and giving students applicable experience across residential or commercial projects as well as civil infrastructure projects.”
Students will have access to a number of state-of-the-art labs, including Swinburne’s Digital Construction Laboratory, where they can design and test structures using 3D-printed concrete.
The program is a three-year, full-time course. It can also be studied part-time, with options for six or 12-month industry placements for additional credit. The program offers pathways into postgraduate programs in construction management at Swinburne. The first student intake will commence in Semester 1, 2022.
You can explore more information about the Bachelor of Digital Construction Management degree profile online.