The investment, announced by BHP Billiton Iron Ore CEO Jimmy Wilson on campus today, will support UWA students and research, the establishment of an "Engineering Zone", and programs to attract more female engineers to the UWA Business School.

Wilson said the new partnership reflected BHP's commitment to education at every level in WA.

"I am immensely pleased that BHP Billiton will continue its long and successful partnership with the University of Western Australia with this new $17 million investment," he said.

"Our investment in the university and higher education in WA builds on the $55 million we have donated to a range of primary, secondary and tertiary education, vocational training and employment programs in this State over the past five years.

"Our investment in state-of-the-art engineering facilities, scholarships and research opportunities at UWA will help to create a centre of excellence for the resources industry and shape an education legacy for future generations."

The Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics will receive $12 million, which will go towards the creation of a world-class Engineering Zone, a BHP Billiton Fellow in Engineering for Remote Operations and BHP scholarships.

UWA and BHP said the Engineering Zone would provide the physical, technological and resource infrastructure to enable an innovative, cross-functional approach to real-world problem solving.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Winthrop Professor John Dell said BHP's investment would help UWA to revolutionise resource-related research, teaching and learning.

"This investment in our knowledge economy will help UWA maintain its place at the top of the engineering echelon," he said.

"UWA and BHP Billiton's collective focus on engineering for remote operations will provide creative solutions to complex problems and support Australia's ongoing economic success."

Another $5 million will go to the UWA Business School, with funds dedicated to increasing the numbers of female engineers, as well as scholarships, a research fellowship, engagement opportunities with scholarship recipients and alumni and a high-profile visiting professors' program.

About $1 million in funding will also encourage the highest-calibre domestic and international candidates to undertake a Master of Business Administration degree.

BHP's contribution was made as part of its Community Development Program, which invested more than $200 million over the past five years to health, education, indigenous development and community infrastructure initiatives in WA.