The University of Queensland and Thiess will launch an exciting new industry and education partnership in Brisbane tomorrow.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay and Thiess Managing Director Martin Albrecht will launch a "Strategic Learning Partnership" (SLP) on Tuesday March 14 at Thiess' new head office at 179 Grey Street, South Brisbane at 11am.
Professor Hay said the initiative was the "way of the future" for industry and higher education, allowing organisations to share resources and mutual learning opportunities.
"This partnership combines the capability of Thiess in delivering practical outcomes from its extensive industry base, with the capacity of The University of Queensland to deliver the latest educational strategies and learning methods," he said.
"A key benefit for UQ is that it will initiate cultural change in engineering education though exposure to contemporary and future issues, at the industry coal face."
Mr Albrecht said the establishment of a formal partnership with one of Australia's premier universities reinforced Thiess' position as a learning organisation and the company's strategic competitive advantage in learning, knowledge and educational initiatives. Thiess is one of Australia's most diverse mining, engineering and construction services organisations. The program for recognising and accrediting Thiess employees' skills, competencies and qualifications would provide an enhanced platform for career planning and development.
"Thiess understands the need for industry and academia to work collaboratively, to ensure that Universities continue to remain relevant to the technical and commercial needs of industry and business," he said. In return, this partnership will provide long term benefits to industry by ensuring a continued focus on innovative education delivery and exposure to the latest contemporary sources of relevant educational material for employees."
Following the signing of a MOU late last year, new programs are being developed, including:
o "Undergraduate Site Learning Program" - a first in Australia for the mining discipline. Thiess mining projects will host and provide a mentoring role to undergraduate students (in their 3rd or 4th year of study). The curriculum is developed by UQ with Thiess input. Students are linked to the University via the Internet.
o "Recognition Pathways" - This program recognises the practical knowledge and experience of Thiess people with extensive 'on the job' skills, but not necessarily a tertiary education. It will combine work based learning with UQ's educational capacity to provide Thiess employees with effective career planning and further incentives and opportunities to gain recognition and continue learning.
o "Flexible learning opportunities" - providing distance and flexible learning opportunities for Thiess employees, irrespective of geographic location. The program will make use of Internet technologies and draw upon the University's extensive learning resource facilities such as the UQ Cybrary.
University of Queensland Associate Professor David Radcliffe is co-ordinating the partnerhip and is based at Thiess during 2000.
Media: Further information contact Thiess' Manager Corporate Relations; Barbara Ferry-Smith telephone (07) 3002-9680 or 0419-647-841, or UQ Associate Professor David Radcliffe telephone 3002 9527.
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