Charles Darwin University becomes first to offer fully online engineering courses

A Darwin university is rolling out a national first in an effort to get more people trained as engineers. See how the plan will work.

A record-high demand for workers has led to a Darwin university creating Australia’s first fully-remote engineering course.

Charles Darwin University is introducing an option for students to complete their engineering course completely online from 2023.

It is estimated an additional 24,000 workers will be needed to fill mining jobs in projects slated over the next five years.

A number of these projects in the Northern Territory have already been put on hold because of the workforce shortage of engineers.

College of Engineering, IT and Environment Dean Professor David Young said it was hoped the change to the course would encourage more potential workers to join the industry.

“CDU has made a long-term commitment to invest in engineering education as there is a significant need for locally trained engineers in Northern Australia,” he said.

“It can be difficult to find people who are prepared to commit to long-term employment in Northern Australia so providing an option for students to study fully online will help to address this demand by providing realistic study options and pathways for students.”

He said the university was equipped to move the course to a fully remote option after years of practice thanks to the pandemic.

“During Covid, CDU was able to continue to deliver subjects online without any disruptions, so we are well equipped to deliver our engineering courses fully online,” he said.

The online courses will include providing students with take home kits, video lectures, simulations and navigation of on-campus laboratory machinery from the comfort of their own homes.

CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman hopes the online course will encourage even more students to take up engineering. Picture: Contributed

CDU vice-chancellor Scott Bowman said there were 350 students currently studying engineering, and it was hoped even more would take up the opportunity to study online.

“While on campus delivery has many benefits, we know that giving students the flexibility to study online will support more students in considering a pathway into engineering,” he said.

“While enrolments into the online program have just opened, CDU is projecting a 2023 intake of 120 students into the undergraduate engineering program.”

According to a Good Universities Guide study, CDU is ranked number three in Australia for employment outcomes in engineering and students often go on to work at Power and Water, NT Government and INPEX.