The 2024 Diversity in Engineering Academic Visitors Funding Scheme enabled experts from ten different countries to build closer partnerships with UNSW colleagues.
Fifteen academics from ten different countries visited UNSW in 2024 through the Diversity in Engineering Academic Visitors Funding Scheme, aiding UNSW’s commitment to supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion in engineering research.
With their expertise spanning from cardiovascular engineering to mining and geology to inclusive engineering, the visitors all had opportunities to present their work to Faculty representatives through a workshop or seminar.
In 2024, there was also a specific initiative focused on supporting academic visitors from Oceania and Timor-Leste, helping to strengthen research and collaborative opportunities within the region.
The 15 visitors in 2024 were:
Each visitor was hosted by a member of the Engineering Faculty, who was also responsible for promoting the two-week visits and their associated opportunities.
A/Prof Susann Beier from the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering hosted A/Prof Jolanda Wentzel, an expert in cardiovascular biomechanics from the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands. A/Prof Beier said that A/Prof Wentzel’s visit in December significantly advanced shared research goals and capacity-building efforts across institutions.
“A/Prof Wentzel delivered a UNSW-wide seminar on 12 December, sharing insights into computational modelling and experimental techniques which attracted broad interdisciplinary interest; while joint student supervision sessions provided mentorship for postgraduate researchers, strengthening international collaboration and knowledge exchange,” said A/Prof Beier.
“A/Prof Wentzel’s engagement also successfully strengthened research collaboration by facilitating the development of two new study designs and providing access to specialised software, which will significantly enhance data analysis capabilities.”
A/Prof Seher Ata from the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering hosted A/Prof Nguyen Thi Hoai Nga from the Hanoi University of Mining and Geology. She said that, “A/Prof Nga’s participation in the Society of Mining Professors fostered collaborative discussions that could enhance the educational frameworks at both institutions.”
“This visit also strengthened the strategic partnership between Australia and Vietnam, aligning with governmental priorities and emphasising the importance of education in addressing global challenges,” said A/Prof Ata.
A/Prof Gustavo Batista from the School of Computer Science and Engineering hosted Dr. Diego Furtado Silva, an expert in data mining and its applications from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. While at UNSW, Dr. Silva gave a presentation, met with academics and progressed research papers and grant proposals—and he also made the time to have one-on-one meetings with Higher Degree Research (HDR) students.
Dr Batista said, “Dr. Silva’s visit significantly benefited HDR students by providing in-depth, personalized research discussions. The feedback received in these one-on-one meetings was far more detailed and insightful than what students typically obtain from conference or workshop interactions.”
Dr Batista also emphasized how valuable the scheme is in supporting critical collaboration.
“This visitors’ funding scheme provides a valuable seed grant to foster and strengthen international research collaborations. Such initiatives are crucial for securing future funding, as they serve as evidence of ongoing partnerships in grant applications.”
The Faculty of Engineering Diversity in Engineering Visitors Funding Scheme provides funding to enable academics who are women, non-binary, gender diverse or from low- or middle-income countries to visit UNSW Sydney for collaboration, research and meaningful connection.