This is the transcript for the video Welcome to UTS in Sydney for international students
Kristie Marcollini:
Hi, welcome to the University of Technology Sydney, ‘Study at UTS in Sydney’ webinar session. My name is Kristie Marcollini, and I’m the regional manager of Oceania, Middle East, and Africa. We’d like to give you an overview of what it is like to study at UTS in this session today.
So UTS is located in the city of Sydney in Australia. As you can see from the map, the UTS campus is centrally-located and is a city university. Around the campus, you’ll see we have Central Station and Town Hall Train Station, which are some of the busiest train stations in the city of Sydney. We also have a bus line that runs in the front of the university as well for easy access via public transport. You’ll see at the other end of the image is the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, which are very famous, iconic places to visit if you’re visiting Sydney.
You can also see here that UTS is, as I mentioned, centrally located in terms of public transport and the industry in terms of being located next to the Central Business District. Sydney is voted as 9th best student city in 2019 in the QS rankings, 2nd best city for innovation in the Asia Pacific region, and then multicultural city as well. So 39% of the population are born outside of Australia, which means we have great options for food and cultural activities around the city of Sydney. New South Wales is the startup capital of Australia, home to almost 50% of all startups, so if you’re looking to start your own startup being an entrepreneur, this is a great location to be studying in. And also #11 most liveable city voted by Mercer 2019 rankings.
This image shows you how UTS is anchored in the tech precinct. So there’ll be shortly a Central-to-Eveleigh tech and innovation precinct, which is being developed as well by the New South Wales government. This will be a great opportunity in the coming years, and we’ll generate hopefully around 25,000 additional innovation jobs by 2035.
So what would you be able to study at UTS? We have over 150 undergraduate degrees that you can choose from if you’re looking at a bachelor degree to study. If you’re looking at postgraduate studies, we have around 240 degrees to choose from. This could be coursework degrees or research-based degrees. We have architecture, built environment, business, communication, design, education, engineering, health, information technology, international studies, law, nursing, science and mathematics, plus transdisciplinary innovation.
If you were to study at UTS, what would the learning experience be like? So the UTS model of learning guides how we design our courses and lessons. It’s informed by what we want our students to become. We’re committed to practise orientated learning, preparedness for a global workplace, research inspired and integrated learning. So often, students will be able to engage with the learning prior to attending a lecture or a tutorial, and be able to discuss in depth the content of that learning once you’re engaged in that experience.
The campus itself at UTS is a model of how we conduct our teaching and learning. So you’ll see in this image is the Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building, which is the UTS Business School, the Faculty of Science, and the Faculty of Engineering and IT. So these buildings were developed as part of the UTS masterplan and developed, as I mentioned, in terms of how we wanted to deliver our teaching and learning on campus.
You can also see here the specialist sport and science facilities at Moore Park. So if you’re interested in sport and exercise management, the UTS Tech Lab in Botany and also UTS Central, which is a new building that only opened in August, 2019.
Within the UTS Central building, we do have the second super lab for science students. So at UTS, we have two super labs, and the image here will show you the Hive Super Lab within UTS Central building. The Central building is also home to the UTS Library, and you see an image here of the Reading Room and also the Faculty of Law is located in this building. We also have a unique library retrieval system, which retrieves books on request, depending on the student’s needs. As I mentioned, we have the second SuperLab for science students, and we have a ProtoSpace. So the ProtoSpace is an opportunity for UTS students and industry to use this space for their 3D printing models and the equipment there is open to public access.
So you can also see here, the Biologics Innovation Facility, radio antenna test chamber, the Data Arena, and the Deep Green Biotech Hub. So the Data Arena gives you an idea of how the research has been conducted at UTS in terms of visualisation. So the Data Arena is a 360 degree 3D room where students can display their research visually. UTS has been climbing the rankings ladder, so we are young, but we are world class. What does that look like for us? So in the top 50, under 50 rankings, we’re ranked #11, and the Times Higher World University Rankings, 2020, we are ranked #194. One of the key experiences at UTS is how we are industry connected. So we collaborate with more than 150 companies who share our values and join us in generating new knowledge, driving change inside our organisations and in society, and creating positive impact for our communities.
So what would that look like as a UTS student? So you could have the opportunity to have real world challenges within the content of your programme, mentors from industry leading through the programme, guests lecturers from industry, and also we have industry shaping our curriculum. There’s also the opportunity for lifelong learning. So you could be a UTS student and graduate, go and have some employment, and then return for further studies to upskill in the future. The value of you mixing with students on campus with those experiences is invaluable. So also for research, we have industry and academics coming together to speed up innovation, create greater impact, and solve complex problems. For our community, enriching our precinct, valuing indigenous communities, knowledges and culture, and championing sustainability and social justice.
While you are UTS student, one of the key opportunities is to access the UTS career service. So UTS Careers often offers these opportunities face to face, but during the current environment, we are offering them via online materials. So there’s still the online resources such as the Careers blog, the video interview practise tool, the career action plan, also instant resume check online. So you can use the write my resume resource to get feedback around your resume. There’s also UTS CareerHub. So students can log in to gain access to industry-led events, plus work ready competitions, and if you need to chat to someone virtually, you can have a 15-minute virtual drop-in, which we’ll go over some key questions you may have regarding your opportunities. And then if you need further advice, you can ask for a career consultation following that virtual drop in.
The other support services while you’re studying at UTS consist of opportunities such as the International Office, which can help with some of your questions around perhaps reduce study load, visa questions, employment letters that you need to show that you’re studying at UTS. There’s also the language presentation and study skills opportunity through HELPS, that’s for local students and international students, to help with your presentation and your English language skills during your studies at UTS. We have the U:PASS mentoring programme for students, which is currently running online for peers to help each other, and there’s a special needs and financial assistance. There are also counselling services, psychology clinic, health service, multi-faith prayer rooms, peer networking, and International Farewell for all our international students once they graduate.
There’s also the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities. So you may be interested in joining a club. So at UTS, we have over 130 clubs and societies via UTS Activate, so it’s a great opportunity to engage and network with other students. There’s also the BUILD Programme if you’re looking to develop your leadership skills. There’s the SOUL Award, global exchange programmes, Shopfront Community Programme, UTS Startups. As I mentioned earlier, if you’re interested in entrepreneurial skills, that’s a great opportunity and all students at UTS have access to that support. There’s also the opportunity for overseas placements workshops and short study courses. So I’d like to hand over to Sahil, who is a UTS student who will be giving us more information about his experiences while studying at UTS.
Sahil Peerzade:
Hi everyone. My name is Sahil Peerzade. I studied a dual degree master’s programme at UTS, which is known as Master of Engineering, Master of Engineering Management. Now, some of the reasons why I chose UTS… world-class campus and its facilities. UTS obviously ranks highly because of their cultural diversity, because of their industry partners, and the most important belief that you come first. I’m going to talk about some of the key experiences of me being a student at UTS. Now, there are many support services available at UTS to help you while you are studying at UTS. Some of them are HELPS, UTS Careers, legal services, counselling and health services, and so on.
Now, UTS Careers deals with providing career related support to all UTS students, be it developing a career action plan, or be it a career development programme to make you job ready, or it could be finding the right internship opportunities. It could be even making an industry specific CV. Now, as we all know, our CV resume is a way of marketing yourself to potential employers. It needs to be professional, well presented, and it should focus on most relevant skills and experience. I booked in a session with UTS Careers team to get my CV checked. When I met the consultant at UTS Careers, they made me realise how important it is to have a good CV and a cover letter. With that guidance on making a perfect CV, I was able to get a job in Australia’s largest telecommunications company, known as Telstra, as a sales consultant.
Now, the next experience that I’m going to share with you relates to UTS legal services. Now, at UTS, legal advice is provided on a different range of matters, including tenancy, employment, traffic and criminal offences, civil matters, debts, family issues, business, and many other areas. Now, when we move to a new city or a new country, we always think of the good and positive things that may come our way. However, we should always be prepared for any unexpected situations where professional advice is required, and there are times where we all need professional advice. At UTS, they are offered free and they are confidential services. I had to meet UTS legal services for a personal issue related to off-campus accommodation. We booked an appointment, and when I got professional advice from them, I was able to sort out my problem.
There are many other services which the university provides, but most of the students are not aware, so always explore what’s available at UTS. Staying away from family is not an easy thing. When you all have such services and people around you at UTS to help you, we are no less than a family. You can walk straight to UTS legal services to know your legal rights, and you can always check the UTS Housing website to check the details about how to avoid an accommodation scam if you’re choosing off-campus accommodation.
Now, the third is very important because it relates to my industry. So I attended an engineering, IT, and construction careers fair in 2018, which is during my second year of study. The annual UTS Careers Fair is your opportunity to have face to face interaction with employers from prominent organisations. You will get a chance to meet our industry partners, and UTS has industry connections with 1,000 plus companies. I got a chance during this time to meet representatives from the likes of Commonwealth Bank, Accenture, Billcorp, PWC, Macquarie Group, and Lendlease.
Now, this fair helps you to engage in creating and inspiring learning that enables you to build strong, professional identities. Now, such career fairs made me keep an eye on the trends in the industry I am in, and I got to understand who’s striving and where do you work, and where are the big jobs. In Australia, on average 45 applicants compete for every graduate role. My only advice to you guys is going to be you need to give yourself the edge. Now, I’m going to hand over this to my peer, José, and he’s going to share his experiences of being a student at UTS.
José Rodriguez:
Hi everyone. My name is José Rodriguez. I am from Colombia, and I’m also a recent UTS alumni. I studied a Master of Marketing with digital marketing studies. I first heard about UTS from one of my friends. She recommended the university to me, and after chatting a little bit with her about her positive experience, I decided to travel overseas to pursue my dream of studying in Australia. I chose an UTS agent to help me with my visa and application process, so I can just try to grow both personally and professionally, and I’m really enjoying my time here. I’d like to share with you guys some of my UTS highlights.
So first, when you first arrive to Sydney, it’s easy to feel nervous about speaking English in a group. You can brush off those nerves in our fun and supportive setting at UTS Network Café. This is a free programme that brings new students from overseas together with experienced UTS students to help them settle into Sydney and UTS community. You can also practise your English around a cup of coffee, which is great. UTS is also a great place to enhance your network and social connections, and after my first semester, I go the opportunity to work on campus. I found this opportunity through UTS CareerHub, which is, as mentioned by Kristie, is an online job listing service only for UTS students. You can find your opportunities tailored to your preferences across the year.
Also during my third semester, I joined the UTS postgraduate business society as a marketing officer. UTS PBS is a UTS Activate society managed by students and supported by the UTS Business School. The society connects students and industry to grow networks for leading professionals. UTS PBS is one from more than 130 societies to choose from. There is something for everyone, whether you’re interested in sports, language, gaming, pop culture, politics, adventure, or if you just want to network within your faculty. You can check them all during orientation all day, or visit the ActivateUTS website.
Finally, as part of my study plan, and especially in my final semesters, I was able to establish industry connections and to network with leaders from different industries. For instance, during my marketing services subject, me and a couple of classmates won the first prize for final assignment. This assignment was on enhancing the customer journey map for Sydney Cricket Ground. It was very exciting, not only because we got free tickets, but also because we got to experience and leave the cricket stadium, and we got some exposure to the marketing managers within Sydney’s wants. Thanks everyone for listening to my story, and now I’m going to hand it back to Kristie.
Kristie Marcollini:
Thanks, José, and I’d like to say thanks to Sahil as well for sharing your stories with us. I’d also like to say thanks to everyone who’s online with us at the moment for attending today, and we hope you found the information useful. If you have further questions, you can chat with our community online via the UTS International website. We have student ambassadors and people from our admissions team to help you with any of your questions. If you’re also interested in getting to learn more about our campus, another opportunity is for you to go to the UTS VR opportunities, and you can do a 360-degree virtual tour of the campus, and also visit the YouTube channel for University of Technology Sydney to download and view some key information videos about the campus and so forth.