Thiess Quarterly News, Volume 1, 2005

The Thiess UQ Strategic Partnership provides opportunities for Thiessto set future directions for the engineering industry.Thiess UQ StrategicPartnership – fosteringexcellence in educationand developmentThe Thiess UQ StrategicLearning Partnership,established in 2000, aimsto utilise the facilities andexpertise of Thiess and theUniversity of Queenslandto develop innovativeengineering leaders througheducation and technology.UQ Professor David Radcliffesaid the partnership hasachieved many importantresults during the pastfour years includingfostering increased learningopportunities for universitystudents and providing aforum for Thiess to contributeto curriculum developmentand help set future directionsfor the engineering industry.Some of the key achievementshave included:• Jointly establishingan undergraduatesite learning programthrough which final yearengineering studentsspend a semester on sitesdoing projects for thesite while simultaneouslygaining full academiccredit for the time.(Over 90 students havecompleted this program;nearly half on Thiess Sites)• Providing opportunitiesfor graduate students towork on Thiess Projectsand Thiess Staff toparticipate both as learnersand as presenters inuniversity programs• Creating a Master inProfessional Studies inEngineering that allowsworking engineers todevelop their projectskills including integrateddesign and construction,value engineering andknowledge managementusing the principles of work– integrated learning, and• Developing variousresearch and developmentprojects with externalfunding. This has includedconducting rapid anaerobicdigestion of municipalsolid waste trials at theThiess Swanbank Landfill,measuring the costsand benefits of virtualdesign and constructiontechnology in majorprojects and completinga socio-technical studyof design managementculture in the company.“In recognition of thepartnership benefits for bothorganisations, a decision wasmade last year to re-launchand further commit to thepartnership until 2009,”David said.“During the next few years,the two key areas of focuswill be education and trainingprograms and joint researchand development projects.We will examine providingsupport to specific actualprojects that will be of benefitto Thiess. We aim to alsobroaden this concept to otheruniversities in Australia.”Thiess Technical ServicesExecutive Manager TonyCoyle said the partnership isimportant for Thiess in bothproviding a critical link withcurrent educational trendsand in enabling the companyto be involved with researchand development initiatives,which may assist in improvingfuture performance on ThiessProjects and within thebroader industry.•Client ResearchDevelopment Program– ensuring ongoing clientserviceIn a highly competitive market,Thiess understands theimportance of fostering itsrelationships with clients.The Client ResearchDevelopment Program is partof an ongoing commitmentto continuously improvingservices and responsivenessto customer needs. As acomponent of this program,Thiess has engaged externalmarket research consultantsto meet with and interview across section of Thiess’ keyclients. The interviews arecurrently being held.Findings from the surveywill assist Thiess in gaininga better understanding of:• Requirements forkey services• Customer satisfactionand performanceimprovement priorities• Challenges to servicedelivery in the years aheadand changing priorities,and• Currency and positioningof Thiess branding.The feedback received fromthis process will be presentedto the Thiess Executive,and business units, who willthen have the opportunity toincorporate key findings intocorporate strategic plansand in individual businessunit plans.Ray Wilson Thiess’Executive General ManagerInfrastructure and CorporateServices said the survey addsconsiderable value to Thiess’business planning processand will now be conductedon an ongoing basis.“The results will providethe Executive with importantinformation to guide ourfuture performance.”•Market research consultant Deborah Wilson and Thiess Director,Finance and Administration Don Argent discuss the Client ResearchProgram currently under way.THIESS l quarterly news l VOLUME 1 l 2005 5