The official launch event for the School of Engineering was held on 24 October 2017, with guests in attendance to mark a renewed focus on engineering at Macquarie.

Guests at the launch event included the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane; Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor, Professor S Bruce Dowton; Faculty of Science and Engineering Executive Dean, Professor Barbara Messerle; School of Engineering staff and students; and the School’s new Dean, Professor Darren Bagnall.

Engineering at Macquarie University has played a big part in the University’s history and past achievements, including the development and commercial application of WiFi with Adjunct Professors Neil Weste and David Skellern, the introduction of the FIRST Robotics program to Australia and more recently supporting the MQ Speed team’s quest to break the land speed record in a human-powered vehicle.

The new School of Engineering is aiming for rapid growth in staff, students and research output in the coming years. This growth, in conjunction with an increasing level of engagement with corporate and government organisations, will help Macquarie play a big part in alleviating the current shortfall of graduating engineers in Australia.

The School’s staff and teaching programs will move to purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities in the coming years and a broader program offering is already beginning with the introduction of a major in Electrical Engineering in 2018.

Professor Bagnall has a vision to grow project-based learning for students in the engineering program at Macquarie.

“Personally, I’d like to see students have more hands-on experience and more project-based assessment. We need to focus less on what students have memorised for an exam and more on letting them show us what they can do in a real-life situation.”