Our Civil Engineering master's programs are flourishing in China
A number of the Department’s staff are currently situated in Suzhou, China teaching in three of our master’s programs being offered at the joint Monash University-Southeast University (SEU) campus situated in Jiangsu Province. Since 2012 SEU and Monash have held a partnership comprising a joint graduate school and a joint research institute. Right now, students are benefitting from the expertise of our Department’s teaching staff as they complete one of the three programs we offer: Master of Transportation Systems and the newly offered Master of Civil Engineering (Water Management).
Suzhou is a planned and organised city and the campus is situated around the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) which is home to nearly 1000 international companies. Situated on a series of canals, the SIP is located across from the historic old town area which has earned Suzhou the title of ‘Venice of the East’. The UNESCO World Heritage listed Classical Gardens of Suzhou dates back to the 11th Century. Students and staff are only 20 minutes away from Shanghai by high speed train and other cultural sites such as Zhouzhuang Water Town, another UNESCO World Heritage site where staff visited for a weekend break.
There is a high level of engagement in the master’s programs and the Master of Transportation Systems has twice previously won the ‘Best Class’ award within Jiangsu Province. This is a great achievement considering there are over 1000 programs to award from. The teaching approach, incorporating partnerships between the university and local industry and specialist guest experts from other universities and countries, helps to induce engagement amongst the students. Students receive a rigorous curriculum that is up to date with current research in the field. Students also appreciate the voluntary activities supported by programs, such as research skills. As 2017 graduate Anish Khadka recalls “Even though the research group is voluntary, the large number of students participating gives an idea of the positive impact that the teaching, along with the learning environment, has on all students”.
Students will graduate with both a Monash and SEU master’s degree after successfully completing their studies, with the opportunity of spending one semester in our Department at the Monash Clayton Campus in Melbourne, Australia’s most liveable city for seven years in a row.
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