Agents on-campus for Discover VU Week

Education agents from across the globe are in Melbourne to learn about the courses, qualifications and services on offer to international students at Victoria University (VU), as part of Discover VU Week (May 2-6).

The 50-strong delegation of local and overseas agents – from key recruitment agencies based in countries including Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and Kenya – has just begun a week-long program of activities and events designed to showcase what makes VU the study destination of choice for 14,000-plus international students annually.

Highlights of the Discover VU Week agenda include;

• Interactive, hands-on sessions in such subjects as paramedicine and English language
• Presentations from VU’s eight academic colleges, including VU College, which administers VU’s international partnerships and engagement, as well as VU Polytechnic, the University’s TAFE division
• A session with Entrepreneur in Residence Gus Balbontin, the former Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer at Lonely Planet
• Tours of VU’s main campuses and the newly opened student accommodation complex, UniLodge @ VU, in Footscray
• Opportunities to meet current VU international students
• A formal dinner hosted by VU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Dawkins, at the Langham.

In addition to an exciting on-campus schedule, the agents will have the opportunity to explore Melbourne, with activities including a guided walking tour of the city centre, a road trip to Healesville Sanctuary, a winery lunch and visit to a chocolate factory, as well as an AFL football match at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.

VU International Director Bronte Neyland (pictured third from left) said the aim of Discover VU Week is to showcase VU’s courses, facilities and services to a global audience, providing participants with first-hand experience of VU’s offerings.

"During Discover VU Week,  our valued agents will see for themselves why VU is a study destination of choice for international students from more than 90 countries worldwide, who enrol in our English language, vocational, higher education and research training courses year after year," Ms Neyland said.

"By the end of the week, we hope our agents will have a complete understanding of the quality, breadth and diversity of the student experience at VU, and will impart this knowledge on their colleagues and prospective students, thereby contributing to the development of VU’s international growth strategy," she said.

Ms Neyland said education agents are a key source of international students for the University, with approximately 70 per cent of students enrolling through agent referral.

"Ensuring our agents are fully equipped to promote VU effectively is an ongoing priority for Victoria University International," she said.

"Hosting agents on-campus is an important part of our strategic growth priorities, just as it is an important opportunity to showcase VU’s strengths in international education."

Discover VU Week is one of many key events being held by Victoria University International in VU’s centenary year. It comes on the back of a recent mission to China, attended by members of the VU College senior leadership team, to strengthen the University’s transnational education partnerships.

Note: From October 2019, UniLodge @ VU is known as UniLodge Victoria University.