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UNSW Sydney starts roadshows to attract Indian students

by India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms 19 Nov 2018, 01:01 pm

Kolkata, Nov 19 (IBNS): University of New South Wales (UNSW) held the first of its open days series here on Sunday to attract new high-school graduates from across India as part of a multi-city roadshow to give them a first look at the range of higher-education opportunities and career tracks on offer at one of the top-ranked teaching and research institutions in the world.

Hundreds of students and their parents attended the multimedia event, complemented by an immersive experience, at the Shangri-La hotel in the heart of the capital, learning for free about the various aspects of student life and employability at the Sydney-based university.

The India Open Days series themed around “employability of international students” will now travel to Chennai (November 20 at Taj Coromandel Hotel); Pune (November 22 at JW Marriott Hotel) and Mumbai (November 23 at Nehru Center).

At the Delhi event, faculty members and representatives from various academic streams and departments of UNSW interacted with visitors to make sure prospective students leave knowing exactly what by the QS 45-ranked Australian university can do for them and their futures.

Blair Slater, who heads the Global Employability department at UNSW, spoke on the university's wide-ranging career development and work placement programs that make sure students are highly employable upon graduation. At an interactive session with students and parents, Slater explained how the university's world-class teaching and research setup help students maximize their potential and thrive in the global world of work.

He also spoke about the UNSW's three-day, Professional Development Program for international students that helps them know about Australian workplace culture, the recruitment process and prepare students for a global career. He held a hands-on session with the visitors on how they can prepare their profiles and attract potential employers.

“Employability, if not employment, is our focus at UNSW to help each international student stand out,” he emphasised.

Students asked questions they had about life and work culture in Australia and experienced a virtual 360-degree tour of the campus at VR zone.

Khursheed Mohammed, who had come with his mother, was looking for an opportunity to study engineering abroad. He found the open day “indeed helpful”.

“It was not about the course, the course material and programme structure but the way employability factor was explained was in particular mind-boggling. I had never thought about such issues. I think I have made a relationship. I will keep writing to these people before making a final decision,” Mohammed said.

Professors and senior teachers from held sessions with students and other visitors on various issues.

Vaughan Rees, Associate Dean International & Engagement, UNSW Art and Design, talked about culture and identity and how design can contribute to a “more inclusive and better society”.

Likewise, Prof Richard Buckland, from the School of Computer Science and Engineering, spoke on cyber security in a session moderated by Ambassador Amit Dasgupta, India Country Director, UNSW.

Another key session on evidence-based approaches to global health challenges was addressed by Dr Isabelle Jalbert, Associate Dean International & Engagement at UNSW.

Dane McCamey, Associate Dean (International and Engagement) Faculty of Science, spoke about quantum science and technology and its impact on information, communications, and health.

Aayushi Pandey, an alumnus of UNSW's School of Business who has joined the university's India office in New Delhi, shared her life at the campus where she got introduced to the work place culture in Australia besides.

Deeksha Nathani, originally from Mumbai but currently studying Master of City Planning at UNSW on the ‘Future of Change’ Scholarship, said she is learning skills that she can use to help her home city.

“It is a different experience. The course is appealing. Studying from different disciplines, such as Geodesign, and gives us a global perspective of any industry,” said the student, who has studied at UNSW since July last year.