The Past
Armidale International Association was first established in 1980 to form a bridge between international students and their families and the Armidale community. Initially, the Association worked predominantly with students studying in the Faculty of Economics who were mostly AIDAB students.
Since 1988, AIA broadened its activities to support the social, cultural and welfare needs of all international students studying at UNE, with special emphasis placed on the needs of student families.
Over the years, AIA has provided many services bridging what is needed by International students and the UNE infrastructure. UNE has now incorporated much of what AIA were doing into its infrastructure and while that looks on the surface as though AIA is not doing very much at present, we on the AIA Committee see that as a wonderful success.
Some of AIA's projects that have now become part of UNE's infrastructure include the following:
- providing a 'Welcome Pack' of helpful information when meeting new students at the airport (now done by UNE International);
- loaning International students blankets and bed-linen for the length of their stay in Armidale (now done by UNE International);
- helping International students, particularly from third-world countries to understand the computer and digitised aspects of studying at UNE (a Foundation, Unit for International students is now offered by Teaching and Learning Centre);
- helping International students with their diction and understanding everyday spoken 'Australian' English (now handled by Academic Skills Office within Teaching and Learning Centre);
- English language classes for the families of International students (now incorporated by UNE International);
- Flying the various national flags from the roof of Booloominbah on the National days of the students enrolled at UNE (now done by UNE International);
- liaison with Armidale-Dumaresq Council to present UNE's International students with temporary Armidale Citizenship certificates for the duration of their enrolment (now done by UNE International).
UNE's recognition of what infrastructure is required by its International students and a willingness to incorporate those needs into its infrastructure is just one of the many benefits of enrolling at UNE as an International student.
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Armidale International Association Incorporated
PO Box U14, UNE, NSW, 2351.