Latest news with #SwinburneUniversityofTechnology
Herald Sun
14-06-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
Victorian university courses with the biggest drop out rates
Victorian university students are accumulating debt for degrees they never complete, with new figures revealing one in three fail to graduate. A Sunday Herald Sun analysis of the latest national Department of Education university completion rate data for domestic students has revealed the courses students are dropping at substantial rates, leaving a portion burdened with HECS-HELP loans and no qualification. Social work and tourism and hospitality students were among the worst offenders, with more than half the cohort dropping out of their degree between 2018 and 2023. Despite incentives, education degrees had the third-lowest completion rate, with two in five students dropping out. Other courses which saw more than 40 per cent of students withdraw included computing and information technology, psychology, and humanities. Conversely, medicine degrees had the highest completion rate with only one in 10 students dropping out, followed by dentistry, rehabilitation and pharmacy. Monash University higher education expert Professor Andrew Norton said the two biggest risk factors which could lead to drop outs were weaker academic preparation and part-time study. 'In the period when the 2018 commencers were studying, we have seen increasing rates of part-time study for continuing students, more students working, and the students who are working spending more time at work,' he said. 'I think this is likely to be a key reason why we've seen some worsening attrition rates in recent years (and) is reasonably consistent with the subjective reasons given such as stress, financial difficulties, study workload or employment.' While it's not known how much money today's students lose when dropping out due to a lack of specific data, Professor Norton said the latest Grattan Institute research on the issue found most students who didn't complete their course would pay or borrow less than $10,000. 'We found most people who dropped out had modest debts but there were some with more significant debts,' he said. He added a significant portion of dropouts occurred in the first year, resulting in lower debt burdens for those students. As for the overall completion rate for each Victorian tertiary institution, the University of Melbourne had the highest completion rate with 89.4 per cent of students who started a course in 2018 graduating within six years. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Gregor Kennedy said the institution provides 'extensive academic, enrichment and wellbeing support to students'. 'The University of Melbourne has a strong focus on student connection, belonging and wellbeing, and all students have access to a wide range of activities to supplement their studies,' he said. Meanwhile, Swinburne University of Technology had the highest drop out rate with 53.8 per cent of students not completing their course. A Swinburne University of Technology spokeswoman said the institution 'absolutely recognised the need to find new and innovative ways' to support its students' individual needs. 'For some, that is the 'traditional' university experience of a three-year degree. For others, it is studying part time, over an extended period, while they continue working full-time and balancing the demands of life,' she said. Swinburne University has launched its Education Innovation Exchange which is supporting its first-year refresh project, that works in partnership with schools to address retention and attrition challenges. Overall, Professor Norton said universities have improved their focus on struggling students and sometimes factors driving attrition rates – such as competing demands on students' time – were out of an institution's control. 'We should also accept that attrition is not always bad if students change their interests or get a job that suits them,' he said. Victorian Unis fork out big cash for WorkCover claims in 2024
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Swinburne Sarawak's Gawai Dayak Bazaar upholds unity amidst diversity
Dancers perform a cultural number for the opening ceremony of the Gawai Dayak Bazaar at Swinburne Sarawak in Kuching. KUCHING (June 11): The Gawai Dayak Bazaar 2025, which took place at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus here recently, brought together diverse communities in a colourful and lively celebration of culture. The three-day event, organised by Swinburne Sarawak Sekretariat Rukun Negara (SSSRN) in collaboration with the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) Sarawak and the Sarawak Arts Council, meant to foster unity and strengthen the ties amongst the younger generation and local communities through arts and culture. The bazaar featured a wide range of engaging activities, from artistic and cultural demonstrations to folk dances, as well as exhibitions and stalls selling traditional Dayak crafts and clothing. A selection of diverse food offerings added to the festivities, allowing visitors to enjoy a taste of local cuisine. Among the highlights were demonstrations of traditional craft-making by the Orang Ulu and Iban communities, performances of traditional musical instruments such as 'Tabuh Iban', and showcases of traditional clothing-making techniques. See (third left) and Giri, on his left, join other guests in a photo-call on stage. The traditional dance performances, including the 'ngajat' of the Iban, not only entertained attendees, but also encouraged their participation through interactive sessions alongside the performers. Visitors had the opportunity to explore exhibitions and stalls showcasing authentic Dayak cultural products such as beadworks, traditional clothing, and delicacies such as 'manok pansuh' (chicken cooked in bamboo). Around 70 small-and-medium-sized traders participated in the bazaar, offering an array of products including clothing, cosmetics, food, and beverages. The event also involved non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations such as the Ngajat Asal Iban Association (NGASI), Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Asadia), Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), and the Sarawak Kayan Association. Visitors try their hands at playing traditional musical instruments at the bazaar. The participation of the Sekretariat Rukun Negara of higher education institutions in Kuching and Samarahan further enhanced the programme's synergy and collaborative spirit. Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How and JPNIN Sarawak deputy director Giri Nyareng were present at the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, in his speech for the closing ceremony, SSSRN president and programme director Dexter Hu Siang Ching expressed gratitude for the successful organisation of the event, noting that it served not only to showcase the beauty of Sarawak's culture but also created a space for unity and goodwill among students, campus communities, and the wider public present. 'As a student and SSSRN president, I'm truly pleased to see the event run successfully. 'I was deeply moved by the overwhelming response from the participants and the strong support from visitors. 'We are already planning an even bigger event in the future,' he said. Photo shows one of the stalls selling accessories made of Dayak beads. Meanwhile, SSSRN advisor Dr Serit Banyan said such a programme greatly benefitted students by equipping them with event management experience, while providing opportunities to develop essential skills such as time management and leadership. 'The Gawai Dayak Bazaar truly reflects the spirit of unity among Sarawakians. I hope that we could continue hosting such events in the future,' he added.
Borneo Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Dr Sim urges community leaders to instil local values in Sarawak's youth
(From fourth left) Lau, Dr Sim and Hieng Wuong officiate at the event. SIBU (June 9): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian wants community leaders to instil local values and culture in Sarawak's younger generation towards nation-building. The Local Government and Housing Minister expressed his worries about the implementation of the state's free education policy starting next year, particularly for students pursuing their studies at Australian-based Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus. 'Between 3,000 and 5,000 Sarawak students will receive free education at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and Swinburne next year because we want high education standards, particularly Australian education. 'I am more worried for Swinburne because I am not sure if we are going to teach our students Australian education with Sarawak values. 'It is very important; otherwise, we will never teach Sarawak values to those (who will be) serving Sarawak,' he said when officiating the Sibu Chinese Community Leaders Association 20th anniversary celebration and 11th committee installation here last night. Dr Sim also expressed concern that students might migrate to Australia, enticed by well-paying jobs after their graduation, as their degrees are recognised by the country. 'It would be like we are preparing 5,000 talents every year for migration. 'This is why it is important for us, community leaders at the forefront of Sarawak government, to teach them local values. 'It is similarly impoprtant for the people to maintain unity, stability and working together for shared prosperity, especially as Sarawak's economy is expected to continue flourishing in 2030,' he added. Meanwhile, Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau was elected president of the association for the 2025-2026 term, with Pemanca Datuk Jason Tai, Pemanca Liong Khing Hee, Kapitan Fung Tat Shen, Penghulu Lau Hieng Wuong and Kapitan Ting Hua Chuan as vice presidents. Kapitan Sim Tang Fei became secretary, joined by Penghulu Lim Kuah Liew as assistant secretary. Penghulu Yong Kin Sung took on the role of treasurer, assisted by Penghulu Tiew Siik Nieng. Filling other key positions were Kapitan Chew Hoo Kiong (welfare officer), Kapitan Wong Chiew Sieng (assistant welfare officer), Kapitan Low Muong Ing (general affairs officer), Kapitan Lau Sei Kwang (assistant general affairs officer), Kapitan So Teck Kee (cultural officer) and Penghulu Kong Sien Min (assistant cultural officer). The committee included Kapitan Ling Hua Wee, Kapitan Chua Kim Seng, Kapitan Wong Jont Kiong, Penghulu Wong Ung, Kapitan Connie Loh and Kapitan Peter Lau were the committee members. Among those present were Dr Sim's wife Datin Amar Enn Ong and Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Will the Milky Way crash into the Andromeda galaxy? Maybe not.
For more than a century, astronomers have watched the Andromeda galaxy, a massive swirl of neighboring stars, speed toward the Milky Way. And in recent years, measurements using the Hubble Space Telescope seemed to confirm a long-held prophecy: In about four or five billion years' time, the two galaxies will clash, ultimately merging into a colossal and unrecognizable new galaxy. A fresh survey of both galaxies and—crucially—several of the other weighty galaxies in the same corner of the cosmos has now cast doubt on that calamitous outcome. The new forecast looked billions of years into the future and found that the odds of an Andromeda and Milky Way merger is about fifty-fifty. 'A coin flip is the more accurate description,' says Till Sawala, an astrophysicist at the University of Helsinki and a co-author of the new study. A messy galactic apocalypse is no longer a guarantee. As noted in the team's new study, published today in the journal Nature Astronomy, 'proclamations of the impending demise of our galaxy seem greatly exaggerated.' Earth won't be around in five billion years' time; it'll likely be scorched and swallowed up by our expanding, dying Sun. But if the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies successfully swerve around one another, that's good news for future worlds. A merger on this scale often sees the supermassive black holes at their hearts of each galaxy unify and expand into a fearsome, hyper-energetic astrophysical monster. That prevents nearby gas cooling down and gathering up to form new stars—and without new stars, you won't get new planets. The possibility of a galactic near-miss is 'somehow comforting,' says Alister Graham, a galaxy researcher at the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia and who wasn't involved with the new research. It's nice to think the Milky Way 'still has a long, planet-forming future ahead of it.' Astronomers witness galaxy mergers happening throughout all of space and time. Two similarly massive galaxies uniting is referred to as a major merger, whereas if a larger galaxy ingests a smaller one, it's known as a minor merger. Although some stars get torn apart by the extreme gravitational interactions of the two galaxies churning about—and some, including their planets, will be scattered like confetti in all directions—but the spaces between individual stars are so vast that most of them don't collide. And although the smaller galaxies can vanish into the maws of the larger ones, the result is often constructive. 'Minor mergers deliver both stars and gas—the raw material for future star formation—into the host galaxy. The stellar winds from newly formed stars enrich the interstellar medium with dust and metals, further fueling the star formation cycle,' says Graham. Even the Milky Way shows evidence of having been assembled via multiple galactic smash-ups. 'Up to 50 percent of the mass in galaxies today come from previous galaxies cannibalized,' says Christopher Conselice, an extragalactic astronomer at the University of Manchester in England and who wasn't involved with the new research. Though astronomers have known that Andromeda is careening toward the Milky Way since the turn of the 20th Century, they weren't sure how direct, or glancing, the clash would be. But in 2012, a landmark study using Hubble came to a definitive conclusion: Based on the motions of their stars, and the galaxies' hefty masses, both would be gravitationally drawn into one another for a head-on collision in four to five billion years. (Later studies have come up with slightly earlier or later timelines for when the merger would happen, but never cast doubt on its inevitability.) And about two billion years after the tempestuous major merger, the two ink-like star spirals would settle down and coalescence. 'It would be an elliptical blob,' says Sawala. Since 2012, this outcome became gospel among the scientific community, and a textbook fact. 'Should the Milky Way and Andromeda be all that matter—sorry about the pun—then they would be heading straight at each other,' says Graham. But the possibility of a future smash-up depends on the behavior of everything else in our Local Group, too: the panoply of at least 100 galaxies hanging about in this part of the universe. Other big galaxies in our neck of the woods might push or pull on the two voyagers over time. Sawala's team decided to simulate the evolution of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies ten billion years into the future. But while doing so, they also accounted for other major players in the Local Group: specifically, the spiral-shaped (and third-largest) Triangulum galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud (or LMC), an irregular galaxy that orbits the Milky Way. The team used data from both Hubble and the European Space Agency's stargazing Gaia space observatory to more precisely determine the motions of these galaxies, as well as their masses—comprised of both ordinary matter and the invisible, but more prevalent, dark matter. Although the Triangulum Galaxy was already known to be quite massive, the LMC was thought to be a bit of a lightweight. But the new data suggest that it's surprisingly massive—equivalent to 10 to 20 percent of the mass of the Milky Way. 'And that will have an effect on how the Milky Way moves through space,' says Sawala. The team simulated the motions of these four heavyweight galaxies thousands of times. While the Triangulum galaxy's gravitational influence conspired to bring the Milky Way and Andromeda together, the LMC had a repellent effect. And when all four danced together, the odds of an eventual major merger was just one-in-two. 'There are going to be uncertainties in how and when the Milky Way and Andromeda would merge,' says Conselice. Dark matter may act as a binding force. But dark energy, a mysterious force that seems to push everything the universe apart, will also play a role—and recent data suggests it's strength can change over time. That makes forecasting a far-flung galactic merger somewhat tricky. But it's safe to say that it's no longer a certainty that these two galaxies will collide. Some astronomers have suggested that if they do, the new galaxy could be named Milkomeda. That moniker doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Don't worry, Sawala says: 'We will have billions of years to think of a better name.' Either way, galactic pandemonium will shape the Milky Way's future. Even though the LMC is pushing Andromeda and our own galaxy apart, the team's simulations also show with that, within the next two billion years, the LMC will spiral into us and be gobbled up by a merciless Milky Way. 'It's basically 100 percent that this will happen,' says Sawala. 'There's no escaping that.'
Sydney Morning Herald
02-06-2025
- Science
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rare aurora bewitches NSW sky gazers, and could stage encore tonight
The horizon blazed with shades of fuchsia and shell-pink light on Sunday as a geomagnetic storm lashed Earth and lit up the first night of winter with the aurora australis. The phenomenon is rarely visible far from the poles, but the dancing light bewitched sky gazers as far north as Byron Bay as photographers snapped the pink glow off Sydney's beaches and across NSW from Cooma to Tamworth. 'We were cheering, everybody was 'Oh my god-ing',' said aurora enthusiast David Findlay, who's chased auroras across Tasmania and Antarctica. He watched the sky last night with about 300 spectators from Gerroa in the Illawarra. Auroras are normally faint in NSW and show up better in photos, but on Sunday the geomagnetic storm was severe enough to spark vivid flashes visible to the naked eye that burned brightly for about 15 minutes, Findlay said. 'Interspersed with these brilliant magenta colours were these very, very bright beams of orange,' he said. 'This is actually the first time I've seen intense orange ... it was the orange aurora!' There's another chance to catch the spectral spectacular on Monday night as the solar storm rages on. 'The activity may continue into tonight, so aurora watchers should be prepared,' said a co-director of Swinburne University of Technology's Space Technology and Industry Institute, Dr Rebecca Allen. 'Auroras are caused when our sun ejects energetic particles as 'storms'. These particles collide with our magnetic field and smash into the atmosphere near the poles,' Allen said, which is why the phenomenon is normally seen close to the Arctic and Antarctic.
