Central TAFE manufacturing lecturer Chandra Thirumalaisamy has been recognised for his outstanding services to industry and education by receiving the prestigious Florence M Taylor award for his work promoting materials and metallurgy training.
The annual award is presented by the Institute of Materials Engineering for substantial contributions to materials science or engineering in Western Australia.
For the past nine years, Chandra has been developing, providing and promoting materials and metallurgy training at Central TAFE, within local industry and through the WA branch of Materials Australia.
His commitment to ensuring the needs of industry are met has seen him develop and update training courses to provide students with training that makes them employable.
The scope of these developments have covered areas such as metallurgy, inspection, minerals processing, condition monitoring and industry specific training requirements to meet the needs of individual companies. He also pioneered engineering studies as part of Central TAFE VET in Schools program helping to inspire a new generation of engineers.
In particular Chandra has played a vital role in the joint initiative between Materials Australia and Central TAFE to establish a Metallurgy Cadetship Program to address the training needs of industry in a period of strong economic growth and intense competition for labour.
On awarding the medal WA Branch President Dr Cathy Hewitt spoke about the support Dr Chandra has provided to the materials industry, which has been greatly affected by WA’s tight labour market.
“Chandra has always been enthusiastic about training and education both within metallurgy and the wider materials science and engineering subjects,” she said.
“He has assisted our Institute members with staff training, developing modules specifically for them as well as, more recently being pivotal in setting up a Cadetship program for Central TAFE’s Diploma in Metallurgy. He is a deserved recipient of the Florence Taylor Medal.”
Congratulating Chandra, Central TAFE Managing Director Neil Fernandes said that a close, working relationship with industry underpins all of Central TAFE’s activities.
“Chandra’s work in bringing together the materials industry and the training sector ensures that Central TAFE will continue to provide graduates who are well trained, highly skilled and sought after by employers.”
“He has also helped establish Central TAFE as a valuable business partner by developing innovative and bespoke solutions to suit the needs of the materials and metallurgy industry.”
Central TAFE is the only provider of Metallurgy training in WA due to the specific staff and facilities required.