2019: Embraced by a community - University of Wollongong

September 30, 2019

For international students studying at the University of Wollongong, there are many experiences to help with cultural and lifestyle immersion, within a community that embraces international visitors.

Illawarra Friends of International Students

With a commitment to supporting international students and their families while they live and study in Wollongong, a group of Illawarra citizens formed a local group in 1979 known as The Illawarra Committee for Overseas Students. Over those 40 years the group has evolved to become Illawarra Friends of International Students (IFIS) and is run by volunteers in collaboration with UOW.

Adding an edge to the international student experience, IFIS helps connect students coming to UOW from all corners of the globe and organises social, cultural and community activities, including English conversation groups, friendship barbeques, cultural cooking classes and day trips. The group also enables a money-can't-buy experience - the formation of lifelong friendships in an environment where they can feel safe and secure.

"Now if someone asks me where my home is, I have to think because Wollongong has become home. I guess that's my greatest achievement for a student coming from Sri Lanka," says Gayani Gunasekera UOW International Student Ambassador.

[Gayani Gunasekera, UOW international student]: I'm Gayani Gunasekera and I'm originally from Sri Lanka and I'm a PhD student with the Faculty of Business and also I'm an international student ambassador. But as an international student I was very happy with my experience here because I felt supported, I felt secure and I felt looked after and taken care of in terms of my transition and also my academics.

[Xinru Wang, CABLE Treasurer / UOW international student]: Our uni is very different. We have a Chinese community support for our students. So once they arrive here they won't feel lonely because we are here and we are here to help them. Not only to start their new life here but also to improve their academic performance.

[Asslisa Tran, UOW International Student Programs Coordinator]: So there's a really broad and diverse range of activities and events and programming that we have developed alongside with our partners to try and ensure that when international students come and study here that they have access to all of those connections and sharing and learning opportunities.

[Gayani Gunasekera, UOW international student]: Now if someone asked me where your home is?, I have to think because Wollongong has become home. I guess that's my greatest achievement for a student coming from Sri Lanka.

[Xinru Wang, CABLE Treasurer / UOW international student]: By having those community in UOW is very good because it can help them to get involved in to the local community and to step out their own zone and then to talk to different people and meet different people.

[Asslisa Tran, UOW International Student Programs Coordinator]: So for our international students we want them to be able to participate in that really fully. So that means integrating into the wider community. Not just the campus community. Meeting community people as well as other students from different cultures and domestic students as well. So lots of our activities support those sorts of connections and relationship building for our students.

[Xinru Wang, CABLE Treasurer / UOW international student]: Study in a different country is not that difficult. It is quite easy. And we can make them to have a very wonderful life in here as well.

[Asslisa Tran, UOW International Student Programs Coordinator]: Think it's a really positive place for international students and a really beautiful environment which is really supportive. I think University of Wollongong, is a really really is a positive place to study.

Chinese Academic Business Learning and Education (CABLE)

In a university with more than 130 student-run clubs and societies, covering everything from religion and culture to study groups, sport and dancing, there are many ways to meet friends and become involved in UOW life.

Chinese Academic Business Learning and Education (CABLE) - a club for academic high-achieving Chinese students in UOW's Faculty of Business and Law - offers the opportunity to support each other in all relevant business majors.

The club, which prioritises first year international students, is also socially innovative and provides an avenue to network with other Chinese students, enhance English skills at bilingual workshops and take on student leadership opportunities.

"Our uni is very different. We have Chinese community support for our students, so once they arrive here they won't feel lonely. We are here to help them, not only start their new life here, but also improve their academic performance," says Xinru Wang, CABLE Treasurer and International student.

UOW International Student Programs

With the academic and social wellbeing of our international students a key priority, UOW has a dedicated International Student Programs (ISP) team. From helping students learn about the variety of support services available, through to assisting them to understand UOW's fees and visa and immigration conditions in Australia.

ISP also hosts a range of community and cultural events, adding extra colour and flavour to the study experience. Each session, UOW hosts a Welcome to Wollongong event to all our international students, where students and their families can celebrate their cultural heritage, meet new friends and feel welcomed into the community.

"There's a really broad and diverse range of activities and events and programming that we have developed with our partners to try and ensure when international students come and study here, that they have access to all of those connections, sharing and learning opportunities," says Alissa Tran, UOW International Student Programs Coordinator.