Nigel Cossar, manager of Global Mobility, was out of the office, so didn't attend. He was an exchange student at Purdue (some years ago).
Stuart Hibberd, manager, Education Abroad Student Programs.
Study abroad costs $10,450 (A$) per semester, plus $195 for OSHC (essentially, health insurance). Room and board costs are about $450 (A$) per week.
Students take typically four courses per semester = 50 points, so 12.5 per course. Some courses are 25 points and some are 6.25.
Housing
- “College” = “Residence hall”. Strict entrance requirements.
- “Residential housing”. Minute walk. An old hotel. Study abroad mostly.
- “Private accommodations”. Shared space (like apartment?).
Mobility home page has place for incoming students to find housing.
International Student Services organization handles students after they arrive. There are “uni lodges” scattered about.
2/3rds of international students come for one semester.
Exchange program is on the upswing. Currently more than 900/semester. Number of students from the US is down due to the GFC (global financial crisis).
US is the single most popular destination for Melbourne students. 111 this semester (55 US students at Melbourne).
Departmental/discipline agreements are possible. They have a commerce agreement with WUSTL and an engineering agreement with U of Michigan.
Research connection between faculty will help forge links for our students.
Dual degrees are a possible way to expand interest in the programs.
There is a problem concerning treatment of exchange students as non-majors–they may not be allowed in to certain courses. Suggests that exchange students be treated as majors when registering for courses.
They are creating the “Melbourne Model”, allowing/requiring students to take more “liberal arts” courses, thus broadening their studies beyond the more narrow content focus of the current programs. These are “breadth courses” and the new model has students taking (only) 25% breadth courses.
The Melbourne Model started in 2008. Six broad areas for degrees: arts, biomedicine (at undergraduate level), commerce, environment, music, and science. (Google “Melbourne Model” for more information; there is a detailed “briefing” available.)
Melbourne students likely to take the 2nd semester (fall) of their second year (of three) for study abroad/exchange.
A “concurrent diploma” adds an extra year.
Course details at http://handbook.unimelb.edu.au.
Students doing study abroad work with content area faculty advisors for approvals before leaving for their study abroad experience.
To make up for Exchange deficit, it is possible to transfer cash in the needed direction. Rarely used, though.
Study abroad fee to rise next year, closer to $11K.
Lunch at Brunetti with Alistair Moffat, department head.