UNE > News and Events > Browse by article > UNE seeks broad-based volunteer support for international students

Next Regional video link for small business seminar August 30, 2005  

Previous Stone tools reveal cognitive limitations of 'little people' August 26, 2005 

UNE seeks broad-based volunteer support for international students

August 29, 2005

IntStud.thumb.JPGThe University of New England is moving to ensure that the mutual enrichment of its international students and the Armidale community will continue and strengthen.

UNE is now seeking broad community involvement in volunteer activities to supplement its core services for international students.

UNE’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Entrepreneurial), Professor Robin Pollard, said: “The challenge is for the University, the Armidale community, and international students themselves to engage in activities that enhance the students’ experience in Armidale.”

Professor Pollard said the nature and needs of the University’s overseas students had changed. In response to this change, he explained, UNE had restructured its International Office over the past one-and-a-half years, and a reinvigoration of support services was a necessary part of that new approach. Until now, some services have been provided by the International Office itself, the students’ own organisation (the International Students’ Association) and the community-based Armidale International Association (AIA).

In addressing a special meeting of the AIA at the weekend, Professor Pollard said: “The AIA has a long-standing and impressive history of supporting UNE’s international students based in Armidale. It, and its members, are right to be proud of their achievements.” He described the AIA as “a unique community group that facilitates international students relocating to Armidale and makes their studying here more enjoyable and more memorable”.

Speaking about volunteer activities, he said: “In return, the community will benefit in ways well-known to those of you who have volunteered your time: learning from each other, forming lasting friendships, and sharing the delights of our region. Those volunteers are adding value beyond that which the University can and must provide. We are only funded for core support; anything else is considered non-core and other revenue sources must be found, if indeed there are out-of-pocket expenses. As we know, however, many good things are free.”

He went on to say: “Earlier this year, the University determined that all volunteer activities that require University support or involvement are to be coordinated through regular meetings.” He explained that this was necessary for accountability, assessment of the quality of services, and avoiding unnecessary duplication and conflicts of interest. “Today I announce that we are opening up these coordination meetings to all individuals or community groups interested in supporting UNE international students,” he continued.

International students themselves agreed, at a separate meeting, that the services provided by the AIA and the International Students’ Association (ISA) had been outstanding. “The community has been very responsive in taking care of us,” said Mr Kiprono Lang’at, a PhD student from Kenya. “The AIA provides important services that should continue.” He said he had been to meetings of international students from universities around Australia and had been proud to represent UNE because of such services.

The students also agreed that UNE provides a unique living-and-learning environment for international students. Mr Benjamin Villa, a PhD student from Mexico, gave as an example the regular face-to-face contact he has with his supervisors. Ms Navjot Bhullar, a PhD student from India, spoke of the “sense of belonging” she had developed at UNE. “It’s been a life-changing experience,” she said.

They said, however, that the proposed integration of services would be to their advantage. One comment was that confusion had arisen in the past because students did not realise that the AIA and the ISA were different organisations.

Mr Mohammad Sakarneh, a PhD student from Jordan, pointed out that there was an increasing need among international students for job opportunities in the community (both for the students themselves, and for their spouses). He said this was an issue that any new, integrated support system should address. Mr Sakarneh, too, mentioned the close working relationship between international postgraduate students and their supervisors as one of the special features of their UNE experience.

The University will announce the next coordination meeting through The Armidale Express. In the meantime, individuals or groups interested in acting as volunteers should write to Professor Pollard at UNE. “We want to ensure that our international students continue to have the best possible experience both academically and socially,” he said.


Media contact: Jim Scanlan (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3049.

The photograph displayed here shows international PhD students (from left) Kiprono Lang'at, Benjamin Villa, Navjot Bhullar, and Mohammad Sakarneh. It is available at:
http://photodatabase.une.edu.au/albums/incoming/2005/international/International%20Students%205.JPG

Posted by Jim Scanlan at August 29, 2005 04:30 PM