In a post-pandemic world, outbound student mobility is rapidly recovering. UTS Global Mobility says faculty could help to further bridge the gap between study and a global experience.
The 2024 Think Global Fair saw 24 global exchange partners, providers and embassies from 21 countries make the trip to UTS. Photo: Stanley Lam
“Well, the ice cream sold out fully an hour before what it did last year,” Senior Manager of UTS Global Mobility Programs Simon Watson joked when asked how many students participated in the 2024 Think Global Fair.
Students were handed a Think Global ‘passport’ at the fair and tasked with speaking to at least three of the 24 partners from 21 countries in attendance. An estimated 1000 students redeemed their completed passports for a free scoop of Gelato Messina ice cream.
The Think Global Fair is an annual on-campus activation facilitated by Watson’s team that brings together global exchange partners, providers and embassies from around the globe. The fair showcases overseas study opportunities available to students at UTS and connects students with champion academics promoting global mobility within their faculties.
“Before the pandemic, UTS was sending 1500 students abroad annually,” Watson told partners in a pre-event briefing.
“Last year we sent just over 1000 students offshore. We need to join forces with partners and faculties to rebuild.”
An estimated 1000 students participated in the 2024 Think Global Fair. Photo: Stanley Lam
Recovery and rebuild have been at the centre of the student global mobility sector since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study by Oxford Economics predicts global outbound student mobility growth will slow to an annual rate of 4.2% by 2030. Previously, the market had grown 5.5% per annum.
We need to join forces with partners and faculties to rebuild.
Simon Watson
Senior Manager, UTS Global Mobility Programs
Attendance numbers for the fair this year were impressive, but the Global Mobility team are calling for further collaboration with champion academics at UTS to ensure that learning abroad remains at the forefront of student minds.
“Having faculty there [at the fair] helps to make the connection for students between their individual degree and feeling that it’s possible for them to do an [exchange] experience,” Watson explained.
Senior Lecturer Dr Daniel Demant from the Faculty of Health was present to assist in fielding questions from students. Demant facilitated two trips last year with students to countries within the Indo-Pacific.
Demant spoke about how incorporating global mobility into his students’ study is an expression of his faculty’s commitment to broadening their scope of the different approaches, problems and perceptions of public health practice.
“Australia’s already quite isolated geographically from the rest of the world, and while we are a diverse country, I think it’s really important that students can see outside of the box,” said Demant.
UTS Bachelor of Nursing students participated in a global short program to Jakarta, Indonesia in 2023 to learn about global healthcare. Photo: UTS Think Global blog
Also present was Senior Lecturer Sojen Pradhan from the Faculty of Engineering and IT, who recently returned from Nepal where his students participated in a disaster management program. Pradhan discussed how lack of awareness for the programs on offer functions as the first barrier for students, and how the fair serves as an outreach point to combat this.
“I think we have a [duty] to let students know, and then it’s up to them. But not knowing is, I think, where a lot of loss happens,” he explained.
Major shocks to the economy are directly associated with a slowdown in outbound student mobility, Oxford Economics reported. Slow GDP growth, low household income and sensitive exchange rates were noted as significant drivers.
I think we have a [duty] to let students know, and then it’s up to them. But not knowing is, I think, where a lot of loss happens.
Sojen Pradhan
Senior Lecturer, UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT
Hsiao Ching from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) made the trip from Singapore to attend the fair. In light of rising costs of living, Ching noted that academic credit is playing an increasingly significant role in a student’s decision to study abroad.
“Students are cautious; they want to have sufficient information to know that they can get a good education [overseas],” she said.
“That’s where the faculty’s word of mouth and their recommendation is actually very useful to students.”
UTS has exchange partnerships with more than 200 institutions worldwide, including Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Photo: Stanley Lam
From a student perspective, faculty-led global experiences can also offer a more economical use of their time abroad.
Student and New Colombo Plan (NCP) ambassador Anthony Cao studies a Bachelor of Business and was awarded an NCP Mobility Grant in January 2023. Cao shared his experience of studying in Vietnam with fellow students at the fair.
“A lot of my friends went on exchange [without faculty], and it was fun in terms of freedom, but it was very hard for them to build a network in that country and try to make connections,” said Cao.
“Going with a faculty [member] provides you with more guidance, and a better itinerary of how to best use your time.”
The Think Global Fair is a long-term investment; planning for a global experience usually begins at least a year in advance, so the fair’s impact may not be immediately visible. However, Watson emphasises the importance of raising awareness in the present to encourage future participation.
“At UTS, having students who are globally competent, capable and aware is core to what we do. We want all students to have that opportunity to study overseas,” Watson said.
Support the UTS Global Mobility mission of sending 40% of UTS undergraduate students overseas for a global experience – together, we can create global impact.
→ Visit the Global Mobility Programs Sharepoint to find out more. Email studyabroad.exchange@uts.edu.au to connect with the team.