Indian student chosen to market Brisbane overseas
Manpreet Kaur is International Student Ambassador. GAURAV PANDEY reports
Manpreet Kaur, an Indian student studying in Brisbane, is one of the 29 students appointed ‘Brisbane International Student Ambassador’ by the city’s Lord Mayor Campbell Newman recently.
Brisbane Marketing’s Study Brisbane Program selected the students from 24 countries with an aim to promote the city to international students. “I’ll be making use of social networking websites to talk about my experiences as a student in Brisbane,” Manpreet says, and adds that international students who have had a good experience in Australia are the “best voice” to promote the country as a destination for higher studies to international students.
Traditionally, Sydney and Melbourne have been the preferred destinations for international students coming to Australia to study.
Manpreet has been studying in Brisbane for the last two-and-a-half “fabulous” years, the city’s “great infrastructure, proximity to Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, warm weather and world-class education” being the reasons that made her choose it over other international and Australian cities. Her Australian education has, she believes, transformed her from a “shy” person to a “confident Brizzie girl” and helped her develop professionally and as a person.
She’s aware that the attacks on Indian students in Australia, highlighted zealously by the media in India, could impact Australia’s reputation as a safe destination for international students. “I think it’s a challenging role, especially owing to the strained Australia-India relations,” but is quick to add, “Brisbane welcomes everyone who has potential to grow and contribute to its multicultural society with an open heart.”
The resilience and community spirit of international students was evident in their efforts to mitigate the anxieties of Queensland flood victims despite many being personally affected by the tragedy. “It was heartbreaking; many students had to evacuate their houses,” she recalls the experience. “We received many calls from anxious friends and relatives. The phone just won’t stop ringing.” Fortunately, the street she lived on escaped the fury of the waters, and her house became a safe haven for other less fortunate students. Through university campaigns and volunteer work International students not only helped fellow students but also the wider community. “The selfless spirit of international students helped Brisbane recover relatively quickly. It also brought the students closer.”
Interestingly, she believes, “homesickness” and “lack of Indian food” would perhaps top the list of problems that Indian students face in Australia – issues that may seem trivial for those who have availed of huge student loans back in India to pursue their dream of studying in Australia or those concerned about their safety in this country.
“University education in Australia is quite affordable, especially in Brisbane as compared to other cities. For Indian students, Brisbane could be the best destination for studies in terms of expenses as well,” she explains and cites her own example to drive home her point, “I belong to a middle class family and most of my education has been funded by my education loan. I was able to find a part time job, so earning for my living expenses was not hard at all.”
The Brisbane International Student Ambassador program is a part of Brisbane Marketing’s Study Brisbane program. It is dedicated to advancing the development of Brisbane’s international student sector.
“The Ambassador program is all about creating global advocates for City Brisbane. As our Ambassadors return to their home countries, they may become leaders in industry and government who create strong global connections for Brisbane,” she quotes John Aitken, CEO, Brisbane Marketing.
“While the Ambassadors integrate and interact with their student peers and the Brisbane community they also help to enrich us with cultural diversity that benefits local business and domestic students who may also study overseas.”
