A semester at the Sunway campus for Aussie students

6 June 2008

Six Australian students from Monash University in Melbourne are currently at the Sunway campus for a whole semester under the Monash Intercampus Exchange Program. Samuel Hales, Jacqueline Patterson, Matthew Bourke, David Bowly, Trent David and Sheree Avard have been here since February. 

The students who will be at the Sunway campus for a whole semester are studying different program in business, engineering, arts and science. They are from the Clayton and Caufield campus in Melbourne.

 When asked about how it is like to be here in Malaysia, they agreed that they are having a wonderful experience. “Being able to hang out with people of different race and culture is tremendously splendid,” said Samuel Hales. He added that he enjoys being able to live in a different country.

 Apart from going around Kuala Lumpur, the students have so far gone on trips to Langkawi and Pangkor Island. They are also looking forward to going to other different places around the country and the region such as Singapore and Thailand.

 The students mentioned that they were primarily afraid about coming to Malaysia as most of them do not really know much about the country. One of them mentioned that they were actually worried if language would be a problem.

 All except for Matthew Bourke and Sheree Avard are here in Malaysia for the first time. Matthew has been to the country a few times already and his brother also took the Monash Study Abroad Program and spent a semester at the Sunway campus as well. Sheree on the other hand was here 10 years ago with her family for a holiday.

 They also highlighted some of their dislikes in Kuala Lumpur and it includes the bad traffic jams that often occur along with cab drivers who sometimes refuse to take them to their intended destination.

 The Monash Intercampus Exchange Program provides the opportunity for Monash University students to spend one or two semesters in Malaysia, Australian and South Africa.

 Since Monash University has exchange partnerships with more than 120 universities in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America and Africa. Students are also able to attend an overseas university as an exchange student under the Monash Exchange Program.

 The students will depart for Australia in July after the semester is over. - Anita Hadi