91PORNY

Swinburne’s startup portfolio continues to grow through innovation and impact

Swinburne’s startup portfolio continued its strong upward trajectory, driven by ventures delivering real-world impact across sustainability, health and advanced technology. Four spinouts – Entromat, Hearables 3D, Eudaemon and Nirtek – were approved for further investment, reinforcing their potential for commercial growth and supporting their next stage of market expansion. Together, these high-impact startups are underpinning Swinburne’s innovation ecosystem and shaping a vibrant future for enterprise creation.

Co-hosts of international justice conference in Italy

In September, Swinburne’s Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science partnered with Monash University to deliver the Safer Communities conference in Prato, Italy. Sponsored by the Victorian Institute for Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare), the event brought together experts – from practitioners to policymakers – to explore better outcomes for justice-involved people.

Continued expansion of the SVAP partnership - new courses and a new location launched

Swinburne Vietnam launched its MBA program through the Swinburne Vietnam Alliance Program (SVAP) with The Hon. Danny Pearson, Victorian Minister for Economic Growth. The program marks a key milestone in Vietnam-Australia education collaboration and aims to develop future-ready leaders for the digital age. In addition, the university launched the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design), with the first cohort commencing. This is the fourth undergraduate degree to be delivered through SVAP and is focused on meeting the demand for design education in Vietnam. In 2025, Swinburne also saw the launch of the fourth SVAP location in Can Tho.

Students gain global insights in Asia

Global study tours strengthened students’ international and industry perspectives across design, architecture and engineering. Students from the School of Design and Architecture undertook a study tour to South Korea, gaining hands-on experience with leading global brands including Hyundai, Samsung and LG through a partnership with Hongik University. Engineering students also built global capability through sustainability-focused study tours to Malaysia, exploring real-world applications of sustainable design and manufacturing across academic and industrial settings.

Enhanced collaboration with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine

Swinburne strengthened our partnership with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (NJUCM) through a joint degree – the Bachelor of Health Science. Swinburne hosted NJUCM co-teachers as part of a professional development initiative, deepening cross-institutional collaboration.

Advancing global best practice through intellectual property

The university filed four new patents across high-impact technology domains. These included international applications for targeted nanoparticles, an ultrasound imaging system and method, a lattice structure for furniture, apparel and spring applications, and a provisional patent for an aircraft payload delivery system.

Plumbing student wins top prize at industry skills contest

Certificate III in Plumbing student Oscar Goode won first place in the 2025 World Plumbing Day Apprentice Skills Contest, hosted by the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre. The event celebrates the critical role of plumbing in public health and sustainable water solutions. This achievement earned him the opportunity to progress toward representing Australia at the United Association’s International Apprentice Skills Contest in Michigan, USA.

Advancing climate innovation through Vycarb partnership

Vycarb, a USA–based climate technology company focused on removing carbon dioxide from the ocean, received investment from Swinburne Ventures Limited through the spin-in model. Swinburne researchers are collaborating with the company to develop AI-powered digital twins of its carbon capture pilot plants, supporting the scale-up of next-generation environmental technologies.

Inclusive and accessible library spaces and services

This year, the university’s library enhanced support for student wellbeing and learning through the introduction of the first dedicated sensory space at the Hawthorn library. Designed to provide a low-stimulus environment, the space is inclusive of neurodivergent students and staff, addressing a previously unmet accessibility need. The library also strengthened access to learning resources through a more consistent and integrated approach to reading materials within the learning management system, improving the experience for students and educators while supporting responsible use of library resources.

Across major global league tables, Swinburne continued to rise in 2025, reflecting the impact of our strategic priorities in education, research and global engagement.

Swinburne ranked number 146 in the 2025–26 US 91PORNY Best Global Universities ranking and remained within the top 300 worldwide in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2025, the QS World University Rankings 2026 and the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026. These outcomes highlight our growing global profile and sustained performance across key indicators, including teaching, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement.

The university also achieved significant discipline-level recognition, with several subjects receiving strong global rankings, aligned to our research strengths and areas of strategic focus.

In Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025, Automation and Control placed 9th in the world, maintaining our leadership in this field. Business Administration ranked 31st globally and Computer Science and Engineering achieved 34th place.

Swinburne also secured a top 100 global position for Electrical and Electronic Engineering and ranked in the top 150 for Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and, for the first time, Metallurgical Engineering, reflecting our growing capability in green steel and sustainable manufacturing.

Further recognition was achieved in Artificial Intelligence and in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, with both placing in the global top 200, closely aligned with our flagship research areas in Digital Capability and MedTech and Health Innovation.

The 2025–26 US 91PORNY Best Global Universities subject rankings further highlighted Swinburne’s depth of expertise, with Electrical and Electronic Engineering ranked 37th in the world. Space Science achieved a top 50 global result at 48th, while Engineering and Civil Engineering ranked 62nd. Swinburne also placed 84th globally in Computer Science and 86th in Optics, reinforcing the breadth and impact of our internationally recognised research capability.

While global rankings remain an important benchmark, Swinburne is a signatory to the More Than Our Rank initiative, recognising the limitations of rankings and supporting a broader, more responsible assessment of institutional success. This commitment reflects our values of inclusion, social impact and innovation, and acknowledges that profound contributions to research, education and community engagement are not always fully captured by traditional ranking metrics. By participating in this initiative, Swinburne joins a global movement advocating for a more holistic understanding of university excellence.

Academic partnerships across Southeast Asia continued to grow, with more than 7,000 students enrolled across the region in 2025. In line with the Australian Government’s Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, Swinburne partnered with local institutions to expand course offerings and increase access to Australian qualifications. These partnerships also enabled WIL opportunities, with over 300 students undertaking placements through the SVAP.

Swinburne’s transnational partnership with FPT University in Vietnam – established by FPT Corporation, the country’s leading technology group – continued to demonstrate strong growth in 2025. The year marked the launch of a new campus in Can Tho, offering undergraduate programs in Business and Computer Science, and a significant milestone with the introduction of the Master of Business Administration in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, the inaugural postgraduate offering.

Swinburne became the first Australian university to offer degrees in Qatar through a new partnership with Barzan University College (BUC). In 2025, BUC began delivering Swinburne foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The inaugural cohort of close to one hundred students commenced in October, supported by strong academic planning, quality assurance and operational collaboration.

Through academic partnerships in Sri Lanka (Nawaloka College of Higher Studies), mainland China (Shandong University of Science and Technology and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine), and Malaysia (INTI International University & Colleges), Swinburne continued to deliver our qualifications in-country. These collaborations enabled students to begin a world-class Australian qualification in their home country, while also supporting their transfer to Melbourne to complete their degrees.

As part of our continued commitment to delivering high quality transnational education programs and meeting our regulatory obligations, Swinburne undertook annual quality reviews and continued monitoring of curriculum delivery. A new Council for Transnational Education was established to strengthen governance and oversight. In addition, improved reporting to academic committees was introduced, providing enhanced visibility and comparison of outcomes across partnership cohorts.

Swinburne College, operated jointly with UP Education on the Hawthorn campus, continued to deliver English language and pathway programs for international and domestic students. Swinburne Sydney, developed with the Education Centre of Australia (ECA), formally completed all teaching activities in 2025.

Demand for learning abroad continued to increase, with more students from Swinburne’s Australian campuses participating in international exchange, study tours and overseas internships. Swinburne-led study tours remained the most popular form of outbound mobility, with destinations including Cambodia, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam.

Swinburne students undertook international WIL placements across disciplines in countries such as Colombia, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, the United States and Vietnam. These experiences support career readiness while building global perspectives.

New Colombo Plan (NCP) mobility grants, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, enabled 80 students to access global learning experiences.

Swinburne refined our institutional approach to international engagement through the work of the International Forum, a cross-university initiative that brings together senior leaders to guide international engagement. In support of our global profile, Swinburne hosted delegations from international partners and governments throughout 2025, reinforcing connections with stakeholders from the UAE, Colombia, Fiji and other priority countries.

In 2025, Swinburne unified our marketing, recruitment and admissions functions under a newly established Future Students and Marketing division, creating a more strategic and integrated approach to student recruitment. This consolidation enabled stronger alignment with university-wide objectives and supported a coordinated effort to build and sustain student load across all cohorts and markets.

Throughout the year, the division delivered several key initiatives, including the launch of new flagship creative campaigns and the renewal of international engagement through major events across South-East Asia and India. A dedicated Vocational Education and Training (VET) outreach program was also introduced, targeting Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs to support local participation and pathways.

Internationally, improvements in agent management contributed to the university’s return to an Evidence Level 1 rating, while continued admissions modernisation focused on automation and risk management.

Despite a competitive market landscape, Swinburne deepened engagement in target regions and advanced initiatives to strengthen long-term recruitment pipelines. Domestically, the university maintained its upward growth trajectory, with strong performance across a diverse range of programs and sustained momentum within the VET sector.

Swinburne continued to strengthen our global research footprint, advancing strategic partnerships across the Asia Pacific and Europe, and further positioning Swinburne Sarawak as the university’s Asia-Pacific research hub.

Expanding partnerships across India

Swinburne and the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) launched the Swinburne–IITH Manufacturing, Materials, Energy and Communication Technologies (SIMMECT) Joint Research Institute. This initiative expands the current joint PhD supervision, researcher and student exchange, collaborative funding, capability building and industry engagement in materials and manufacturing into two new themes: Energy Transition, and Next-generation Communication and Quantum Technologies.

A new partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) will strengthen collaborative bids, including through the Australia–India Strategic Research Fund and advance joint research in metamaterials, computer science and product design.

Expanding ties with Europe

Swinburne deepened our international research partnerships through the renewal and expansion of key European collaborations. A five-year extension of the Offshore PhD Agreement with the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) in Spain will enable jointly enrolled PhD students in Design and Architecture, building on a well-established and productive research relationship.

A new Cotutelle Agreement with Politecnico di Torino (Polito) was also signed, supporting joint PhD supervision and expanding collaborative opportunities in mathematics and science.

Swinburne further renewed our strategic partnership with the University of Bayreuth in Germany for a third term. This alliance continues to support joint research activity, co-funded initiatives and emerging academic collaborations, including a joint application to the International Research Training Group program.

Swinburne Design Factory Melbourne (SDFM) continued to exemplify global best practice in applied innovation, interdisciplinary research and industry collaboration. As a key enabler of Swinburne’s full stack innovation ecosystem, SDFM led a strategic initiative to enhance coordination and competitiveness in research tenders. By connecting researchers across disciplines, the ecosystem is designed to leverage collective expertise, strengthen proposal outcomes and deliver high-impact, real-world results.

Enhancing industry engagement through applied research

SDFM led several high-profile, multi-stakeholder research projects, reinforcing Swinburne’s reputation as a trusted partner to industry and government:

• Fair Work Commission – WFH Surveys Project: In collaboration with the School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship, SDFM conducted two national surveys with over 1,200 participants. Findings are shaping a new Working from Home clause in the Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 – a nationally significant initiative.
• Transport Accident Commission – ROI Review: In partnership with the Schools of Business and Health Sciences, SDFM assessed the value of key health data registries to inform future funding decisions.
• Victorian Skills Authority – Renewable Energy VET Pathways: Working with Swinburne’s VET team and academic staff, SDFM identified emerging skills needs in Victoria’s renewable energy sector to guide new vocational certificate development.
   

Innovation services driving commercialisation and capability

SDFM continued to expand its portfolio through tailored engagements that supported capability building and commercialisation:

• A 12-week innovation sprint with the Australian Energy Regulator explored new models for incorporating consumer perspectives into policy development within a rapidly evolving energy market.
• In partnership with La Trobe University, SDFM supported researchers to assess the commercial potential of novel technologies through a four-week market validation sprint, including stakeholder interviews and opportunity mapping.
• SDFM also delivered professional training services for Swinburne staff and external clients, including The Ascott and NBN, achieving a 100 per cent promotion score across all offerings.
• A new partnership with Regional Development Australia – Melbourne deepened regional engagement, delivering a custom-designed online short course, Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams with Confidence, to 55 regional organisational leaders.

Celebrating 25 years of impact

Swinburne Sarawak commemorated its 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter-century of transformative contributions to education, research and innovation in Malaysia. Since its establishment, the campus has played a key role in developing skilled graduates and advancing the knowledge economy across Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific. Swinburne Sarawak achieved its highest ever student enrolment this year, marking a 21 per cent increase from the previous year. To date, more than 10,500 students have graduated from the campus.

Advancing research and innovation

To guide its research, Swinburne Sarawak developed a Research Masterplan 2030. The plan outlines the university’s long-term commitment to delivering cross-disciplinary research in priority areas such as energy, advanced manufacturing, the digital economy and inclusive innovation. A new state-of-the art addition was commissioned – the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) – which will strengthen the university’s research capabilities in advanced materials and nanotechnology.

Expanding strategic partnerships

Swinburne Sarawak continued to expand its collaboration with industry, government and community stakeholders to drive applied research, innovation and student employability. A significant highlight was the renewal of its partnership with Sarawak Energy Berhad, Sarawak’s primary energy utility. First established in 2019, the renewed agreement enhances cooperation across education, research, internships, talent development and industry-engaged learning.

Further advancing its role in real-world innovation, a tripartite agreement with Novugen Pharma and Borneo Medical Centre will support the co-development of a real-time hospital tracking system.

National recognition and academic excellence

Swinburne Sarawak’s commitment to academic quality and governance was reaffirmed at the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Awards 2025, where it was ranked among the top five self-accrediting institutions under the Higher Education Provider Excellence Award for Internal Quality Assurance category.

A growing hub for global research

Swinburne Sarawak continues to expand its role as the university’s Asia-Pacific research and training hub, now hosting over 140 active Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students — the largest offshore HDR cohort for Swinburne. Supported by joint supervision, shared infrastructure and collaborative projects between the Sarawak and Melbourne campuses, this transnational research model fosters innovation in areas such as renewable energy, hydrogen and advanced manufacturing, ensuring regional relevance and global impact.