City to welcome and celebrate international students
25 Feb 2008 | Renee Criddle
The Wollongong community will show its appreciation and support of international students this week (Friday 29 February) when it hosts a Civic Reception Community Festival in their honour.
The Welcome to Wollongong (W2W) Project is aimed at making international students feel welcome, providing them with more information about what is happening in the community, and making the community more aware of the large and diverse international student population in Wollongong.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Alex Darling will officially open the Civic Reception, which will include an International Community Festival featuring a performance by Australian Idol’s Tarisai Vushe and a range of live music, performances, markets, information stalls, competitions and giveaways. The event will also include a traditional Welcome to Country and a performance by members of the local indigenous community.
The University of Wollongong, Wollongong City Council, TAFE and a range of community organisations have all provided support for the pilot W2W Project which is part of a wider initiative aimed at enhancing the experience for international students (at UOW, TAFE and schools), celebrating diversity and profiling the presence of international students and the contribution they make culturally and financially to the region.
The project is an initiative of the Welcome to Wollongong Working Group, which was formed in response to research that indicated international students wanted their experience enhanced by becoming more involved in the local community.
This group was successful in securing an IMB Foundation Grant of $20,000 for the project. The working group is also very focussed on the social well being of overseas students and helping them adapt to life on campus and in the community.
“The civic welcome is a way of celebrating the contribution of international students and recognising the importance of international students to the social, cultural and economic life of Wollongong,” said Associate Professor Peter Kell from the Faculty of Education. “It shows that the community really cares.”
When: Friday 29 February 2008 (the Civic Reception will be held from 11.30am – 12.15pm and the Community Festival will be held from 11am – 3pm).
Where: Crown Street Mall Wollongong, Amphitheatre Stage
For further information: Contact Leanne Crouch or Jan Sullivan on (02) 4221 3110.
Media please note: A number of international students are available to participate in interviews or be profiled in the lead-up to the event to discuss their experiences as international students in Wollongong. Professor Peter Kell and Dr Gillian Vogl will also be available for interviews. They have both conducted extensive research into the value, needs and experiences of international students.
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