Sydney, Australia: Two students from DPS International (DPSI), Gurugram recently concluded a week-long study trip to Sydney, thanks to Australia’s Number 1 young university, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The study tour was the winning prize for students participating in Austrade’s ‘Film Fly Experience Australia’ schools video competition.
The competition organised by the Australian Government’s trade, investment and education promotion agency (Austrade) invited students to create short videos showcasing their innovative ideas. DPSI’s Ansh Aggarwal and Rishi Mohan created a video which focused on ‘Improving the lives of those living in smart cities and urban areas’ which secured them the winning place from UTS. To fulfil the objective of the competition, which is to broaden the horizons of Indian students and provide them with an opportunity to exhibit their creative talents, UTS organised sessions for the students on entrepreneurship and start-ups, a science forensic laboratory workshop and a Leadership Program Masterclass on personal branding. UTS also made the students’ experience memorable with a city tour, showcasing a mix of popular tourist spots and iconic buildings, and a visit to the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains, a scenic lookout on the outskirts of Sydney.
Ms. Rima Singh, Head of School, DPSI, Gurugram acknowledged the wonderful opportunity the winners received. “It is a matter of great pride that Ansh Aggarwal and Rishi Mohan of DPS International won the Austrade’s ‘Film Fly and Experience Australia’ video competition. This study trip to UTS has given our students a cross-cultural exposure and an opportunity to expand their horizons, along with memories of a lifetime. Initiatives like these challenge students to think creatively and build practical skills and academic knowledge, which will hold them in good stead in the future.”
“We would like to thank Austrade and UTS for providing our students with this unique and relevant educational experience. Our student’s success stories some years from now will surely acknowledge their stellar role in shaping their future,” Ms. Singh added.
Market Development Manager for UTS Insearch, Ms Olivia Barnes, who helped judge the winning entry, was impressed by the DPSI students’ ideas. “Their video showed a strong interest in using vehicle heat and energy for power charging. Their ideas were well developed and presented in a way which demonstrated on their interest in technology and engineering. These ideas reflected the way UTS seeks to create a better future by advance knowledge and learning through research-inspired teaching, research with impact, and partnerships with industry, professions and community.”
“The feedback from the winning students and their accompanying teacher about their visit to Sydney was so positive,” said Ms Barnes. “They were very impressed by UTS’ focus on developing work-ready skills, the high quality of the campus infrastructure and facilities, and the welcoming, multicultural university and surrounding community.”
Australia is a major international study destination for Indian students, attracting more students every year in fields such as technology, media and digital studies, engineering and robotics, scientific research, health and entrepreneurship. According to the Australian Government’s international student data, more than 100,000 Indian students enrolled in Australian educational institutions during 2018, constituting almost 12.5% of the overall international enrolments. Some of the reasons behind this rise are the high-quality of education, post-study work rights for international students, the presence of vibrant Indian communities in major Australian cities and positive bilateral relations between the two nations with focus on research and education.
