Building strategic learning partnerships with industry

In response to these challenges, The University of Queensland has initiated a strategic learning partnership with one of Australia's major mining and engineering companies, to offer UQ students a new learning experience, which has as its core aim the development of graduate attributes demanded of engineers in the 21st century.

Commencing in February 2000, Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd have agreed to host a number of undergraduate students from UQ at several of their mine sites in regional Queensland. UQ academics, educational developers and library specialists have collaborated to design the "Undergraduate Site Learning Program" http://www.thiess.uq.edu.au/ which places senior engineering students in an industry workplace where they undertake a structured learning program over an extended semester. This is not just another work experience program. This innovative approach combines the best features of vacation work and co-op programs with elements of formal study to create an integrated industry learning environment. Students learn in context, working and learning in on-site teams and they are mentored by both UQ and Thiess personnel. UQ staff members visit the students while they are on site to give specialist assistance and to monitor progress. Importantly, students in this program experience professional practice in a successful company at the leading edge of the mining contracting business in Australia.

Entry into the program was very competitive with six 4th year Mining Engineering students taking part in the program in semester 1 and a similar number of 3rd year Minerals Processing students in semester 2. The new technologies have been harnessed to deliver subjects to students on-site. These students will continue to study the same subjects as their peers at UQ in Brisbane, but they will access online learning materials and use electronic communications to connect with their Brisbane peers and with UQ teaching staff. Students on site have 24 hour access to bulletin boards, email, chat rooms and the entire resources of the Internet, as well as to specifically designed online learning materials structured into online subjects. They also have access to all University of Queensland library resources, databases and document delivery services.

This paper outlines the development of the strategic learning partnership including initial negotiation with the industry and plans for extended partnerships. It also details the "Undergraduate Site Learning Program" and reports on student experience with the program to date.