The University of Wollongong (UOW) has formally welcomed its newly arrived international students. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading UOW held its "Welcome to Wollongong" event on its campus on Tuesday, August 20.
The new students were greeted by a litany of clubs, support networks and other students to help them adjust to uni life in a new environment. A snack bar was set up featuring Australian staples like pavlova, sausage rolls and even fairybread doughnuts. The main feature for the students though was getting to meet each other.
Xinchn Cheng is from China and is studying for a master's in human resource management. "It's going to take me around two years and I am very interested in this major, and I have some friends in Wollongong, so that's why I'm here." Ms Cheng says her main focus outside of her studies is to meet new people while in Australia.
"I'd like to meet some new friends, I think that's my main goal," she said. The sentiment was echoed by French student Anaelle Novella who is studying biology. "I really would like to discover the Australian culture and also the biodiversity of the country and meet new people," she said.
Ms Novella had thought about a number of factors when choosing UOW. "I thought the city was really beautiful and it was near the beach just like where I come from. "So I think it was a good idea and it was also a small city, so it should be nice, and it is.
" Computer science student Osaid Kasprowicz is from Germany but grew up in Dubai, where he attended UOW's Dubai campus. "I'm a student at UOWD in Dubai, it was a three-year program whereas the other universities were a four-year program, so that was the biggest consideration. "Then it's of course a good university.
" Mr Kasprowicz says he hasn't got a set itinerary in mind for his time in Wollongong. "There's nothing planned out, I'm going to enjoy the place, I'm already enjoying it, it's really beautiful." Current UOW student Yeshwanth Sunkara said he came to the welcome event to help new students who might be finding it difficult in a new environment.
"When I first came to Australia someone helped me, so it is my duty right now to help someone as well," he said. Swipe through: Mr Sunkara is currently studying engineering and says the welcome event would be very helpful for students. "It's a point of access, instead of just figuring it out by themselves.
"You can come here and see what other services are available around the university." German PhD student Yunus Berndt said he personally contacted UOW's Professor Song-Ping Zhu to study applied mathematics. "I got in contact with him and he wrote a paper that I read and it's more or less personal contact.
" Wollongong's charms have captured Mr Berndt already, however. "I love it, I live close to the beach, I go surfing almost every day," he said. "Like it's winter but it's much better winter than in Germany.
" Interim Vice-Chancellor John Dewar said UOW was "thrilled" to have the international students at the uni. "We couldn't be happier to have such a rich international student community at UOW," he said. "The unique perspective you bring, the cultural richness you add, the diversity you represent - these elements are the things that make our university truly special.
" Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community. Got a tip? Send it through to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.
com.au. He/Him Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community.
Got a tip? Send it through to me at [email protected].
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