About the Department of Engineering
The Department of Engineering is one of the oldest engineering providers in Australia.
Our Department is part of the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.
We work closely with industry to ensure our education programs – offered at La Trobe’s Melbourne and Bendigo campuses – equip graduates with the practical and technical skills they need to succeed in a dynamic, fast-paced profession.
Our goal is to produce graduates of the highest calibre who have gained real world experience through Work Integrated Learning, industry projects and regular contact with industry leaders.
We are also educating the next generation of regional engineers, supplying Victorian industries with a graduate pipeline and skilled workforce capability. Our Engineering and Technology building opened in Bendigo in 2019, a state-of-the-art facility that allows our students and researchers to collaborate with industry on initiatives of regional, national and international significance.
The Department of Engineering has a unique partnership model with industry that allows us to produce exceptional engineers and research outcomes. Together we are creating a powerful engine for innovation and economic growth.
Industry-led education
The Department of Engineering offers education programs that give students the theoretical and practical skills required to set them up for future career success.
Our Work Integrated Learning program is sector-leading and embedded in our Engineering degrees. Students undertake a six-month placement with a company, learning on the job while simultaneously completing a capstone project.
We partner closely with industry, training a future engineering workforce in a range of areas including manufacturing, defence, food, agriculture and water.
We also have over 25 regional partners in Victoria’s north. These placements help to strengthen the professional ties between regional students and their local communities.
The result: The Department of Engineering achieves 95% in overall employment outcomes for graduates, with 90% employment for regional students post-placement.
Real world solutions
Our researchers are experts in collaborating with industry – tackling the problems of today to create solutions for tomorrow.
They specialise in the design, creation, processing and performance of advanced polymer and composite materials, or new materials, for the biomedical, automotive, aerospace and defence industries. They use computational methods to develop micro/nano structures and machine learning models in civil engineering.
They are experts in geotechnical engineering, working to understand soil behaviour and ground improvement. They specialise in advanced systems and technologies that drive innovation in the construction industry.
And, they develop robotic systems and Internet of Things solutions for condition assessment in sewers, real time underwater image enhancement, wildlife and pest control, and agricultural robotic pruning systems.
Our graduate researchers also conduct industry-engaged research. Our Masters and PhD programs give candidates the opportunity to conduct high impact study under the direction of experts in their field.