In 2024, a special fund was established to enable academic visitors from countries within Oceania and the Pacific to visit engineering colleagues at UNSW Sydney.
The latest Diversity in Engineering Academic Visitors Funding Scheme included a special sub-fund to strengthen research and collaborative opportunities within the Oceania / Pacific region.
In 2024, academics from the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) were hosted by UNSW colleagues. The visitors 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.
Scientia Senior Lecturer Yu Jing and Professor Seher Ata from the UNSW School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering hosted Jim Lem for four weeks in October-November 2024. During his visit, Dr Lem presented on ‘Innovative engineering solutions for sustainable development in Oceania’ and also gave a guest lecture to the MINE2820 Mineral Processing course on the topic of processing costs.
UNSW colleagues also had the opportunity to work with Dr Lem face-to-face on a joint EOI application to a company in Papua New Guinea, and to discuss further developing the Petroleum Engineering discipline within PNGUoT.
Yu Jing said that the key benefit of Dr Lem’s visit was the potential for education collaboration.
“PNGUoT is facing an increase in student numbers and has close ties with the local oil and gas industry,” said Dr Jing.
“With MERE’s long history of delivering high-quality Mining and Petroleum Engineering programs, our academics can help to develop their Petroleum Engineering discipline and advance their Mining Engineering program.”
In December 2024, Scientia Professor Nasser Khalili and Prof Richard Stuetz from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering hosted Alvin Chand (Teaching Assistant), Wayne Areki (Discipline Coordinator) and Petero Tuiwalese (Laboratory Technician) from the University of the South Pacific. While at UNSW, they toured the Water Research Laboratory, the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation Laboratory, the Infrastructure Laboratory and the Heavy Structures Laboratory; and met with colleagues including Head of Humanitarian Engineering A/Prof Andrew Dansie and Deputy Dean (Societal Impact and Translation) Prof Rita Henderson.
Through these activities, ideas and best practices were exchanged across engineering education and research and ties were strengthened between UNSW and USP, paving the way for future joint research projects and academic exchanges.
The timing of their visit also enabled the trio to attend a Board meeting for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as a series of end-of-year social functions. This allowed multiple opportunities for informal networking and the strengthening of relationships.
Finally, Jayashree Arcot, Professor in Food Science and Nutrition with the UNSW School of Chemical Engineering, hosted Dr Lydia Yalambing in February 2025. She said that Dr Yalambing’s visit was a great opportunity to discuss and progress collaborative projects focused on Food and Nutrient Security in Papua New Guinea.
Both Prof Arcot and Dr Yalambing participated in an online workshop with HarvestPlus where they discussed the opportunity to introduce biofortified crops into Papua New Guinea as a means to combat micronutrient malnutrition. They also dedicated a full day to discussing and progressing potential funding opportunities for this project—something that was made much easier by meeting face-to-face. Another important activity discussed was the opportunity to benchmark PNGUoT’s Food Science program against UNSW’s food science program with a view to facilitate future student exchanges.
Prof Arcot said, “As a result of Dr Yalambing’s networking at UNSW, there is potential for collaboration with PNGUoT across both teaching and research.”
“The Vice Chancellor of PNGUoT was fully supportive of Dr. Yalambing’s visit,” said Prof Arcot.
The Diversity in Engineering Academic Visitors Funding Scheme will run again in 2025.