Two new Australian universities open for U of M exchange students

Joanna Bhaskaran, staff

The U of M has added two new student exchanges at one of its most popular destinations: Australia.

Beginning in September, U of M students can exchange to University of Sydney and Flinders University, in addition to four other

Australian universities.

Robin Dirks, student mobility and exchange co-ordinator for the university, said that, already in 2007-08, 13 U of M students enrolled in student exchanges in Australia. In the 2006-07 school year, eight students chose to study at the

partner institutions.

“The universities are popular because of the language component and they are also, for the most part, larger universities, so there are more courses to choose from. The weather is also a factor that most students consider, and also it’s not a huge

culture shock.”

Students in the Faculty of Arts can participate in an International Studies BA at the University of Sydney. At Flinders University, a university-wide exchange means that U of M students can transfer into any faculty or school.

There will be more exchange agreements to come because U of M president Emöke Szathmáry recently signed an additional four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the vice-chancellors of the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Monash University and Flinders University, which are all in Australia. Szathmáry attended the trade mission in Australia in February along with Premier Gary Doer.

The MOUs, according to the president in her bulletin report, mark the establishment of formal relationships between the institutions that will help “facilitate the undertaking of joint research and the exchange of professors and students.”

Robert Kerr, vice-president (academic) and provost, visited a number of Australian institutions in the fall of 2006 with Christine Blais, director of University 1, and Rhonda Friesen, co-ordinator from the Office of International Relations for international co-operation agreement, to evaluate the suitability of establishing exchange programs with

the institutions.

The province of Manitoba and the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria signed MOUs in 2006. Recently, exchanges between the two countries have been encouraged on a government level, as the Province of Manitoba and the state of South Australia have agreed to provide $1.8 million over a three-year period to support research and exchanges between the two countries.

This funding will primarily encourage exchanges for graduate students, according to Kerr.

Choosing the universities to partner with depends on many factors, Kerr said. The factors include whether the specific university is willing to invest some funds into the exchange, which faculties at both universities could benefit from the exchanges, and whether there is a need at that institution for exchange partners.

“The University of Manitoba has historic relations with a couple of Australian universities, and, now that the MOUs have been signed, details have to be worked out between the faculties,” Kerr added.

Kerr went to say that the U of M “should see the establishment of some more exchange programs about 18 months from now.”

The specific programs are

still undergoing planning,

so Kerr said that the specific

faculties involved have not

yet been decided.





Volume 95 Issue 24	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	March 19, 2008

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Two new Australian universities open for U of M exchange students Joanna Bhaskaran, staff The U of M has added two new student exchanges at one of its most popular destinations: Australia. Beginning in September, U of M students can exchange to University of Sydney and Flinders University, in addition to four other Australian universities. Robin Dirks, student mobility and exchange co-ordinator for the university, said that, already in 2007-08, 13 U of M students enrolled in student exchanges in Australia. In the 2006-07 school year, eight students chose to study at the partner institutions. “The universities are popular because of the language component and they are also, for the most part, larger universities, so there are more courses to choose from. The weather is also a factor that most students consider, and also it’s not a huge culture shock.” Students in the Faculty of Arts can participate in an International Studies BA at the University of Sydney. At Flinders University, a university-wide exchange means that U of M students can transfer into any faculty or school. There will be more exchange agreements to come because U of M president Emöke Szathmáry recently signed an additional four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the vice-chancellors of the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Monash University and Flinders University, which are all in Australia. Szathmáry attended the trade mission in Australia in February along with Premier Gary Doer. The MOUs, according to the president in her bulletin report, mark the establishment of formal relationships between the institutions that will help “facilitate the undertaking of joint research and the exchange of professors and students.” Robert Kerr, vice-president (academic) and provost, visited a number of Australian institutions in the fall of 2006 with Christine Blais, director of University 1, and Rhonda Friesen, co-ordinator from the Office of International Relations for international co-operation agreement, to evaluate the suitability of establishing exchange programs with the institutions. The province of Manitoba and the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria signed MOUs in 2006. Recently, exchanges between the two countries have been encouraged on a government level, as the Province of Manitoba and the state of South Australia have agreed to provide $1.8 million over a three-year period to support research and exchanges between the two countries. This funding will primarily encourage exchanges for graduate students, according to Kerr. Choosing the universities to partner with depends on many factors, Kerr said. The factors include whether the specific university is willing to invest some funds into the exchange, which faculties at both universities could benefit from the exchanges, and whether there is a need at that institution for exchange partners. “The University of Manitoba has historic relations with a couple of Australian universities, and, now that the MOUs have been signed, details have to be worked out between the faculties,” Kerr added. Kerr went to say that the U of M “should see the establishment of some more exchange programs about 18 months from now.” The specific programs are still undergoing planning, so Kerr said that the specific faculties involved have not yet been decided.


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