Top marks for Engineering, Computing at Southern Cross in Good Universities Guide

Engineering at Southern Cross ranked number one nationally in four of five key categories and number two for the other, all of which it received a five-star rating for. Just last week, Southern Cross announced an expansion of its Engineering offering at the Gold Coast campus, building on the success of the Lismore campus.

New Chair of Engineering Professor Charles Lemckert said Southern Cross rated top in Australia for Overall Educational Experience, Teaching Quality, Skills Development and Learning Resources, giving a top two result for Student Support.

“We have such brilliant students and they are guided by deeply passionate academics and highly engaged industry partners,” Professor Lemckert said.

The Good Universities Guide draws results from its national Student Experience Survey and looks at key areas of university learning and outcomes. The top ranking a University can receive is five stars.

Southern Cross overall was rated five-stars for postgraduate Overall Experience, Student Support and Teaching Quality.

Graduates also rank Southern Cross five-stars for Overall Educational Experience in the fields of Business, Computing, Engineering, and Humanities.

Nursing and Health Services, the areas of Southern Cross’s largest growth, received five stars for graduates moving into full-time employment.

Executive Dean of Health, Professor Julie Jomeen said the demand for health courses, from speech pathology through to midwifery, continued to grow.

“I am thrilled Southern Cross is supporting Australia’s future health workforce. It is very satisfying to see so many of our graduates go straight into the careers they have studied for, with employment levels as high as 90% for nursing graduates,” she said.

Engineering & Technology highlights:

Southern Cross 5-star ratings:

• Overall – Overall Student Experience (PG); Student Support (PG); Teaching Quality (PG)
• Agriculture & Environmental Studies – Teaching Quality (UG); Student Support (UG)
• Business & Management – Full Time Employment (UG); Learning Resources (UG); Overall Educational Experience (UG, PG); Skills Development (UG); Student Support (UG, PG); Teaching Quality (UG)
• Communications – Full Time Employment (UG); Median Graduate Income ($51,700) (UG)
• Computing & Information Systems – Median Graduate Income ($64,500) (UG); Overall Educational Experience (UG, PG); Skills Development (UG); Student Support (UG, PG); Teaching Quality (UG, PG); Full Time Employment (PG)
• Education – Overall Educational Experience (PG); Student Support (PG); Skills Development (PG); Teaching Quality (PG)
• Engineering & Technology – Overall Educational Experience (UG, PG); Learning Resources (UG, PG); Skills Development (UG, PG); Student Support (UG, PG); Teaching Quality (UG, PG); Full Time Employment (PG)
• Health Services & Support – Full Time Employment (UG, PG); Student Support (PG)
• Humanities, Culture & Social Sciences – Full Time Employment (UG); Overall Educational Experience (UG); Skills Development (UG)
• Law & Paralegal Studies - Student Support (UG); Teaching Quality (UG); Full Time Employment (PG); Overall Educational Experience (PG)
• Nursing – Full Time Employment (UG); Overall Educational Experience (PG)
• Psychology – Student Support (UG); Teaching Quality (UG)
• Science & Mathematics - Learning Resources (UG); Student Support (UG); Teaching Quality (UG)
• Tourism, Hospitality, Sport & Leisure – Median Graduate Income ($48,800) (UG);

*UG = undergraduate    *PG = postgraduate

The student experience

Civil engineering student Scott Onus is full of praise for the learning environment at Southern Cross University and the job-ready skills he acquired.

“Southern Cross have some great facilities, they've got really good support. As a mature-age student, it has been a really good experience,” said Scott.

“The lecturers are very helpful. They also challenge you to do the appropriate research, which has been beneficial for the industry I've gone into.”

Scott also reflected on the professional benefits gained from the Coffs Harbour City Council Engineering Scholarship.

“I was able to work at the council with a team of engineers on roads, water pipes and concrete footpaths and bridges. That was a great experience to step into the industry,” said Scott who is set to graduate soon.

“After that, I got a job with a structural firm and that's where I'm working now. I've been there for more than 12 months.

“A lot of my University friends have got employment. A lot of them are working on the highways at local councils and Transport NSW, even local engineering firms and steel manufacturers.”

View the 2023 Good Universities Guide results.