| KUCHING - While many university students were taking it easy during their semester break, 12 Australian students from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne gave their degree an international edge by flying to Kuching to continue their studies at Swinburne’s Sarawak Campus, recently. The students were part of the three-week Electives Plus programme organised by Swinburne Sarawak for degree students from its Melbourne campuses to broaden their international experience and enhance their employability by undertaking any elective unit outside their chosen discipline.
While it was their first trip to this part of the region for many of them, they found the study tour to be a valuable experience both academically and culturally. "My time at the (Swinburne) Sarawak Campus has been a great cultural and educational experience,” said Shaun Douglas, one of the students.
"The Electives Plus subject has allowed me to expand my range of skills and broaden my understanding of how multimedia can enhance marketing activities. My lecturer was very knowledgeable and dedicated to helping us through the hectic three-week programme," he said, referring to Ondris Pui who was the lecturer for the programme. Shaun added that besides being inspired to undertake further multimedia studies, coming to Kuching had given him a unique opportunity to make new friends and he now feels confident working with international colleagues and is looking forward to travel to Asia again. "Studying in Malaysia has given me an understanding of Malay culture and customs,” he said. “This is a great opportunity and good experience for travelling and seeing the world without falling behind my studies at all,” said Claudia Weijers, a Tourism student. “Kuching is an interesting city with diverse cultures and offers the opportunity to experience a different lifestyle,” said Ellen Place, an Accounting student who also found the local cuisine irresistible. “I really like the food here because of its variety and its local flavour,” she said and admitted that she loves “fried kueh tiaw”. “I have never experienced any food I disliked in every meal since I got here.” “I love Roti Canai,” added Claudia. “The curry gravy that goes with it is just great and it was so different.” The students were accompanied by a staff from Swinburne’s Melbourne campus during their stay here. Among the places of interest they visited were the Cat Museum, the Astana, Main Bazaar, Kuching Waterfront and India Street mall. The highlight of the trip, they said, was going to the annual Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching. They also travelled to Miri and visited the Niah Cave national park where they found the walk through the tropical rainforests to be “quite spectacular and witnessing the exodus of bats added to the experience”. Published by:
Eastern Times
11 August 2007 | 
