March 27, 2014

Go places at UOW’s international exchange fair

From France to Finland, we offer exchange programs at more than 140 institutions around the globe.

Representatives from institutions around the world will visit Wollongong next week as UOW hosts its annual International Exchange Fair on Wednesday 2 April.

UOW Student Mobility Manager, Ms Ashley Tanks, said UOW has sent more than 4,100 students overseas on its student mobility program, with more than 500 students participating in semester exchange or shot course programs in 2013 alone.

“The International Exchange Fair is a great opportunity to get a real feel for the multitude of international opportunities available to UOW students,” Ms Tanks said.

“We are delighted to host international staff from Montana State University (USA), Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico), Arnhem Business School (The Netherlands), University of New Caledonia, Embassy of France, Education USA, the High Commission of Canada and many more.”

Exchange students past and present will also be in attendance to answer questions – from visas, expenses and accommodation to subject choices and of course, their experiences.

UOW Communications and Media student Emily King went looking for a unique experience while studying. She found it, plus new friends and a lifetime of memories, on the other side of the world, 16,000km  away from the everyday.

Emily has just returned from a semester at Karlstad University in Sweden.

“Karlstad is surrounded by rivers, and my student residence backed onto a forest and lake —so on those days when it’s a bit warmer than minus 20 degrees it is incredibly beautiful to explore,” Emily said.

But Emily said it was the people she met along the way that made her exchange experience the best three months of her life.

“I have never laughed so much! Being the only Australian in Karlstad, I was pushed out of my comfort zone to make friends from all over the world. I’ve even started to learn German!”

“I would recommend the experience for anyone with a sense of adventure, anyone who likes to travel, or anyone who likes to laugh with people from all corners of the planet. The precious memories, friendships and knowledge you gain will last a lifetime.”

UOW marketing student Xirui Zhou swapped the sandy shores of Wollongong for the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland for a semester to study at the University of St Gallen, which is renowned for its business school.

“Being in another university environment has definitely enriched my understanding of the major I am studying and my whole university experience,” she said.

“It can be a bit scary at first, but I have discovered new sceneries, cultures and, more importantly, more about myself. I would say that seeing more of the world [has made] me a bit more clear about what I look for and value in life.”

To find out where you could visit on exchange, visit uow.edu.au/student/exchange.