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Leading Australia-based engineering firm Clough Limited will support funding of a First Year Centre for engineering students at The University of Western Australia.

The Centre, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will be a home base for Engineering First Year Students and form a crucial part of the pathway from university to the workplace, and from the eager first year student to the professional engineer.

Signing the agreement to seal the UWA-Clough partnership today, UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said Clough's sponsorship of the Centre would enhance the University's ability to deliver world-class engineering graduates.

"Our University takes great pride in the quality of its graduates and our engineering graduates are making substantial contributions to industries in Western Australia and throughout the world," Professor Robson said.

"Clough has had an extensive and very positive history with UWA since the early 1970s primarily with the introduction of engineering scholarships, which was spearheaded by Harold Clough," stated Clough CEO John Smith.

"This scholarship programme, which has since been extended to other tertiary institutions, has led to a significant graduate intake.  Our business relies on access to first class engineering talent and we are proud to be able to support the First Year Centre at UWA."

Enrolments in engineering courses at UWA have climbed in recent years to meet the growing demand of the resources industries.  Government-supported places have increased by 180 over the last three years, with 600 students enrolling in first year engineering at UWA in 2008.

The Centre will provide a friendly, professional workspace for group and individual work.  It will function as:

• The focal point for the Cooperative Education for Enterprise Development (CEED), Engineering Foundation and Industry Advisory Panel activities;

• A private meeting space for students, staff and industry partners;

• A display space for industry partners to showcase their activities, promote themselves as employers and demonstrate the career opportunities within their organisations;

• An Exhibition Foyer to showcase undergraduate engineering projects.

Construction on the Centre will begin next year.  The Centre is expected to be ready for students beginning their engineering degree in 2010.

Professor Carolyn Oldham, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at UWA said: "The first year centre reinforces UWA's commitment to producing world-class graduates with the technical, professional and interpersonal skills needed to succeed.  We have a strong commitment to involving our industry partners in engineering education and this is one of the many strategies to help us deliver excellence to the community."

"The Centre shows the commitment the university and the profession have to the new first year student by supporting the student in a dedicated professional working environment."

Media references

Professor Carolyn Oldham
(Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics)  (+61 8)  6488 3704
Gaye Gelok (Clough Limited)  (+61 8) 9281 9451  /  (+61 4) 13 336 323
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716