Nine University of Queensland students are among twenty-six new honorary international student ambassadors named in Brisbane.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the appointments were for one year and would provide unique Brisbane experiences for the students.
“Brisbane attracts about 75,000 enrolments from international students each year and the city welcomes every one of them,” Cr Quirk said.
UQ International director Andrew Everett said the Study Brisbane Student Ambassador roles were awarded after a competitive selection process.
“The students should be very proud of their achievement,” Mr Everett said.
“I know they will do an excellent job in representing The University of Queensland and Brisbane to the world.
“The program is an excellent career development opportunity.
“It allows international students to enhance their personal and professional skills by undertaking local and international media interviews, meeting delegations to Brisbane and volunteering for a wide range of events.”
Announcing the new ambassadors, Cr Quirk said that building relationships with students created a lifelong connection between Brisbane and students and their family and friends.
“That’s why our Study Brisbane program is of such great importance and regarded as vital to our growth and development,” Cr Quirk said.
“When US President Barack Obama visited Brisbane late last year he delivered an address at UQ that made headlines around the world.
“During that speech he was full of praise of Brisbane and its facilities, including its educational institutions and especially our universities.”
The UQ ambassadors are:
- Ms Adrianova Carrion, Nicaragua, Masters in Economics and Public Policy
- Mr Anush M.Zarif, Afghanistan, dual degree in Business Management and Information Technology
- Mr Bakani Butale, Botswana, Bachelor of Science
- Mr Barani Ganapathi, Switzerland, Bachelor of Biological Sciences
- Ms Dannicah Chan, Samoa, Bachelor of Commerce
- Ms Dorothy Sze, Singapore, Bachelors of Medicine, Surgery and Science
- Ms Linh Dao, Vietnam, Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Ms Victoria Bergquist, Norway, Bachelor of Arts
- Mr Minsuk Kim, South Korea, Bachelor of Commerce
They will use social media to tell their networks the “Brisbane story” through their eyes, especially in their home countries.
Cr Quirk said international students would generate almost $3 billion of economic activity in Brisbane this year, and the figure rose to almost $4 billion if housing investment and visits by the students’ families and friends was included.
“Study Brisbane provides a connection for the tens of thousands of young people from 160 different countries who choose Brisbane as their second home during a very exciting stage of their lives," he said.
“Study Brisbane puts out the welcome mat and constantly searches for ways to help these students connect with our city and improve their study experiences in Brisbane.”
Contact: Adriana Velez, UQ International, ph +61 7 3365 7951, a.velez@uq.edu.au
Photo: UQ’s Brisbane International Student Ambassadors (from left) Dannicah Chan (Samoa), Anush M.Zarif (Afghanistan), Adrianova Carrion (Nicaragua), Minsuk Kim (South Korea), Dorothy Sze (Singapore), Barani Ganapathi (Switzerland), Linh Dao (Vietnam), Victoria Bergquist (Norway), and Bakani Butale (Botswana).
.jpg?itok=A3VEKM1Y "Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry")
