Auckland Kicks-off VIP Scheme
Futureintech’s VIP scheme kicked off when the first industry professional began sharing his knowledge with students and staff at Auckland University. The VIP scheme encourages better links between industry and academia to improve research and teaching programmes.
Transport Consultant Dr John McLean was flown in from Melbourne by Futureintech as part of the Visiting Industry Professionals ( VIP) scheme in October 2004. Associate Professor Roger Dunn, who successfully applied for funding, says the visit was a great success.
“Dr McLean is a well known expert in the operation of two-lane highways, and he was able to share his knowledge with graduate classes of transportation engineering students. For the students, it was a great chance to have someone with top expertise sharing their knowledge and we had very good feedback.”
As well as lecturing students, Dr McLean also met with staff from the University and representatives from Transfund and Transit in Auckland.
“The VIP programme has given us a chance to begin a relationship in research and teaching we expect to have long term benefits for the University,” says Professor Dunn.
According to Dr McLean, the experience was a worthwhile one. “It meant graduate students were exposed to the thinking behind the changes in practise in New Zealand and Australia, and not just from a textbook, but from someone who was a part of it.
“This kind of programme is very worthwhile. Both the professional and academic spheres can become isolated, so this kind of interaction is always valuable. Both sides can learn a lot from each other,“ he says.
