Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are joining forces to provide opportunities for graduate engineers to seek a career in hands-on construction, rather than design.
The announcement of a new Chair in Civil and Construction Engineering was made during the QMCA’s Annual Dinner and Safety Excellence Award Presentations in Brisbane recently.
Funded by the Building Employees Redundancy Trust (BERT), the academic Chair will work collaboratively with industry and QUT to develop curriculum which specifically addresses industry skill needs.
The QMCA, comprising Queensland’s 19 major contractors who account for almost 80 per cent of the State’s construction and civil engineering work, are strongly focussed on industry efficiency and sustainability.
QMCA president, Mr Tony Hackett said the partnership will bolster the number of graduates entering the industry.
“Industry needs to be part of the solution by engaging with tertiary education to ensure graduates are ‘construction ready’ and can move straight into projects.
“The Chair will develop undergraduate courses, as well as those for existing professionals to rapidly acquire specialist knowledge,” Mr Hackett said.
More than 600 students enrol in QUT civil, civil and construction, or civil and environmental specialisations each year, which is almost half of the QUT engineering cohort.
QUT Executive Dean of the Science and Engineering Faculty, Professor Martin Betts said QUT had worked with the Queensland construction industry for a long time.
“The Chair will ensure course relevance and engagement between industry and the university.
“The right academic candidate for the position will have extensive industry experience and act as a conduit between the industry and university ensuring needs are met and course content is contemporary and highly relevant,” Professor Betts said.
