September 22, 2014
Illawarra Committee for International Students wins International Student Award
The Illawarra Committee for International Students (ICIS) was recognised for its support of international students at UOW as the recipient of a NSW International Student Award for Community Engagement (Education Provider).
Pat Farrar with the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Regional Development John Barilaro. Photo: Benjamin Townsend Photography.
About 20 committee members and students attended the awards ceremony at Sydney Opera House where ICIS President Pat Farrar received the award on behalf of the committee.
ICIS was established in 1981 and comprises members of the local Illawarra community and current international students. The committee organises sightseeing trips, social events and dinners to help students from across the globe settle into life in 精东传媒. ICIS also holds conversational English-language sessions twice-a-week.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) Eeva Leinonen congratulated ICIS on the award.
“It is a fine acknowledgment of the commitment and care provided to students who are new to our country and the 精东传媒 of 精东传媒,” Ms Leinonen said.
The awards are presented annually by StudyNSW and the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. Parliamentary Secretary for Small Businesses and Regional Development, John Barilaro, who represented the Deputy Premier at the awards presentation, said the Community Engagement award was awarded for the first time this year to recgonise groups that help international students connect with the community.
“By implementing a range of different initiatives, the winners of these awards have helped international students to feel part of the community and also to resolve issues they might face,” Mr Barilaro said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner said: “The awards publicly acknowledge the positive contributions and achievements of these outstanding international students who come from a range of educational institutions.”
Belgium international UOW student Zoe Broisson was a finalist in the Higher Education category while the Univative program, of which UOW is a participant, was recognised as a finalist in the Community Engagement category.