Fresh and renewed energy has been palpable at Charles Darwin University last week as students arrived from 22 countries to participate in the university’s diverse academic programs.
A jam-packed week of social, cultural and sporting events familiarised new students with the university’s diverse services and the Northern Territory’s unique music and cultural traditions.
Elizabeth Macdonald, Director of Support & Equity Services, adds that the transition to university life can be challenging. That’s why our O-Week program also offered information sessions like Achieve without losing your cool, Writing and plagiarism, Successful e-learning through Learnline and Exploiting your career and employment prospects.
International and Indigenous students were given a head start, with orientation days that addressed specific issues like cultural adjustment.
Undergraduate and post-graduate students from Europe, the Middle East, South and Central Africa, North and South America and across the length of Asia have chosen to study at CDU. To smooth their transition to university and Northern Territory culture, staff ran sessions on visa issues, enrolment, cultural differences, our health system and many of the basics taken for granted by Australian students.
‘More students are electing study part-time, while working, so they also need advice on successfully linking their studies into life as a whole, such as researching assignments and accessing computer rooms after hours,’ said Ms Macdonald.
‘Students are prone to more stress and concerns about their future,’ she said. ‘In Orientation Week we get a chance to show all students that Support and Equity Services can support them.’