Curtin University Colombo shares Prof. Prabir Sarker’s insights on building tomorrow’s engineers

Professor Prabir Sarker, a distinguished academic from Curtin University Australia’s School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, visited Curtin Colombo recently. As a leading researcher in sustainable construction and eco-friendly concrete solutions, Professor Sarker shared his insights on engineering education, global opportunities, and the future of the profession.

His visit strengthens Curtin Colombo’s commitment to providing world-class engineering education, preparing students for global careers, addressing local and regional challenges. Through the global campus model, students in Sri Lanka gain access to the same high-quality education and research opportunities available at Curtin University Australia.

Q: What excites you most about visiting Curtin Colombo?

PS: It is a great pleasure to be here. What excites me most is to be able to meet our students at Curtin-Colombo and also to meet colleagues here. We usually communicate with colleagues in Colombo by emails, sometimes the telephone and often on online meetings, but it is always wonderful to meet in person, to see who our students are and what support we can provide them.

Furthermore, we are able to communicate with each other and receive feedback from both students and colleagues, to effectively offer them the support they need. We can also collaborate between the Australian and Colombo campuses when feasible.

Q: How do you see Curtin Colombo playing a role in developing engineering talent in Sri Lanka?

PS: I understand there are many other universities in Sri Lanka producing engineering graduates and some of the universities have a long-established history, which enables them to produce well-qualified engineering graduates. However, Curtin is a global university with campuses in six different countries. Curtin brings valuable global experience in engineering, which I believe will greatly benefit students at Curtin-Colombo. They will have the skill and knowledge that is necessary to work as a global citizen in the whole world.

Q: What are the biggest trends shaping the future of civil and structural engineering?

PS: Civil and Structural engineering and Civil engineering are traditional engineering but recently we see that the application of software and AI in civil and structural engineering analysis and design. Especially there is the introduction of 3D printing in Civil engineering and more of sustainability applications in the design of civil engineering and structural engineering projects.

Q: Why should students consider a global university like Curtin – especially in today’s world?

PS: As graduates, engineering students after graduation can work in different countries. Engineers can work without borders, there is no limitation of country for work. Curtin has the experience of working in different countries and in addition, producing graduates in different countries. This will be extremely  helpful to offer Colombo Curtin students the skill and knowledge required to work globally, anywhere in the world.

Q: How is Curtin preparing students for the rise of AI and emerging technologies?

PS: We are continuously upgrading our courses to introduce new technologies and introduction of AI. We have an industry advisory panel and conduct meetings throughout the year to receive feedback from industry on our courses. We also stay informed about the latest industry developments to incorporate them into our courses. Students undertake industry placements as a graduation requirement, which also provides them with valuable exposure to the latest technologies and practices in the field.

Additionally, industry professionals are invited to deliver guest lectures and contribute to teaching, which allows us to integrate industry experience and the latest industry technologies into our courses.

Q: What advice would you give to young people passionate about sustainability or infrastructure?

PS: Currently, sustainability is extremely important. It is actually essential for any engineering projects because resources are limited and what we do today has an impact on the climate and the resources that will be available for future generations. Therefore, it is essential to consider sustainability in the design of every engineering project.