Deakin University's Centre for Advanced Design Engineering Training (CADET) was officially opened this week by the Federal Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham.
The $55 million engineering education and industry innovation centre in Geelong focuses on digital manufacturing, rapid prototyping, 3D modelling and visualisation technologies.
Featured at the opening was the centre’s immersive virtual reality lab or CAVE with four projection-based screens and haptics so users can feel what they’re working with as well as see.
A virtual woman in labour was the star turn and students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, were able to prepare for real life deliveries by supporting the virtual woman give birth, including analysing contractions and the baby’s heartrate.
Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said it was widely accepted that Australia’s prosperity could no longer rely on either the domestic manufacturing market, or what it digs out of its earth, loads onto ships and sends overseas.
“Universities should be leading the way when it comes to researching solutions and producing graduates to drive such solutions when they enter the workforce,” she said.
“So the key question we have asked at Deakin University is what will be the key ingredient for Australia in an innovation-led future in a global market? In answering this question, we looked outside to see exactly how the world is addressing this - and it became clear that design is the only way forward.”
She said Australian industry must understand what the world wants and it must be able to keep up.
“We have rebuilt our engineering degree to drive a new type of manufacturing view; one built on design and advanced manufacturing that will deliver highly sought after products,” she said, adding for the benefit of the Minister that it matched the focus of the Government’s industry, innovation and competitiveness agenda, and would lead Australia’s next generation of engineers into the unknown jobs of the future with confidence and the relevant skills.
“Because of our new approach, and the world-leading technology inside CADET, our students will be solving real-world problems in partnership with industry from the very beginning of their degrees,” den Hollander said.
Minister Birmingham talked about investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“These days, around 75% of jobs in the fast growing industries demand workers with science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills,” he said.
“The Centre for Advanced Design and Engineering Training is helping us create a strong workforce with the science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills necessary to drive innovation and secure Australia’s economic future. Modern facilities that provide students with the skills they need, in areas where we know there are jobs, are vital both in meeting in this case local engineering demands but also to attract students from outside of the Geelong region.”
Professor den Hollander said Deakin’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment had analysed the evolution of innovation from the point of view of industrial technology, industrial engineering and industrial design, finding it was performing strongly on the first two, largely through the materials and automotive sector.
“Then we have industrial design, which is creating products and systems that optimise function, value and appearance for the mutual benefit of both user and manufacturer. But this has not been part of the DNA of the innovation process in Australia,” she said.
“Successful innovators such as Apple, Samsung and Dyson have proven that industrial design should be the first thing manufacturers consider when developing products that require engineering and technological solutions. But Australia’s focus on industrial engineering has not been as prominent as in other countries and with the demise of mass automotive manufacturing there is a real risk of things actually moving backwards.”
She said CADET was based on several overseas models, but a first for Australia.
“Students can enter university knowing that when they graduate they will be prepared to solve real-world problems,” she said.
“This means that for the first time, students will be able to learn how to engineer solutions to problems in a hands-on workplace environment, rather than the traditional passive theory-based model of learning inside a static lecture theatre.”
Minister Birmingham explores 3D virtual reality at the CADET opening. Photo: Deakin University.