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Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Indian Express
From Haridwar to Wollongong: Finding creativity, courage and community in a new country
– Antra Johri Studying abroad was always something I dreamed of — not as an escape, but as a challenge. I wanted to push myself, try something new, and see the world through a broader lens. Initially, I planned to study in Germany. I even learnt German for four consecutive years. However, the Covid pandemic made international plans feel uncertain. That's when Australia and the University of Wollongong (UOW) came into the picture. The more I researched UOW, the more I felt aligned with its values and offerings. The student experience seemed incredible, with opportunities for real-world learning, global community engagement, and a campus nestled between the beach and the mountains. I completed my Class 10 and 12 at Delhi Public School, Ranipur in Haridwar. I was actively involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities my school offered — from debates and tennis to swimming — and I also won several art competitions along the way. My school is located in a quiet, spiritual town known for its ghats and Ganga aarti. Haridwar, while serene, has limited exposure when it comes to opportunities, especially in higher education and creative careers. My father graduated from IIT Roorkee and was the senior deputy general manager at BHEL Haridwar. My mother was a full-time homemaker until life pushed her to be a changemaker — she founded Hakuna Matata, a local NGO supporting people with disabilities, especially in a town where disability is often hidden. My eldest brother has autism, and growing up around him gave me a profound sense of empathy and perspective. From the outside, we looked like a picture-perfect family, but the reality was more complex. My father struggled with severe alcoholism. He passed away in a car accident when I was 10-year-old. That tragedy became a turning point for our family. I am 22 now, and those early experiences shaped my resilience and passion for life. I explored many options in Australia, but once I narrowed in on UOW, I felt confident in my decision and put my energy into making it happen. I mostly handled the admission process myself, though I did receive lots of guidance from The WorldGrad team and UOW College support team, especially for the visa process. Gathering documents and meeting requirements was time-consuming, but worth it. I appreciated how transparent the process was. I also received the Global Start India Scholarship, which was awarded automatically with my course offer. That support made a big difference. My first few days in Australia were a mix of excitement and nervous energy. I moved into an apartment with a stranger who quickly became a friend. I remember thinking, a stranger is just a friend you have not met yet. I enjoy conversation and connection, so I leaned into that instead of fearing culture shock. For example, I joined events during Orientation Week and signed up for a local art club, which helped me ease into life in a new country along with many other things. Of course, there were challenges — my first landlord scammed me with a rental contract, and figuring out groceries and budgeting felt like crash courses in adulting. But I kept reminding myself that growing pains are normal, even if I had moved cities within India. I have since lived in two wonderful accommodations, and now share a home with two of my best friends — both Australian. When it came to work, I focused on making the most of my university experience. I became a Student Ambassador for UOW College and volunteered with various organisations. Giving back to the community made me feel happy and along the way made great connections that helped me in one way or the other. Academically, my experience in Australia has been incredibly rewarding. I studied Marketing as my major for a Bachelor of Business, and what stood out was how practical the learning was. Instead of just exams, many assessments involved solving real-life business problems. We even gave live presentations for our subjects, which helped build confidence and communication skills. The teachers are wonderful — not only incredibly knowledgeable, but approachable and supportive. There's a great sense of mutual respect between students and staff. They are happy to meet for one-on-one consultations, and that openness makes learning collaborative, not just hierarchical. For example, for one of my subjects, we created a full marketing strategy for a local business and pitched it to the owner. It gave me real-world experience and taught me a lot about teamwork, deadlines, and strategic thinking. What I love most about UOW is its diversity, inclusiveness, and creative energy. There's always something happening on campus — from global festivals to local initiatives — and everyone is encouraged to participate. I have made friends from all over the world, each bringing their own stories, cultures, and perspectives that have enriched my experience in ways I never imagined. So many treasured memories I have here in UOW. But one of my proudest moments was performing an Indian classical dance on the UOW stage in front of over 300 people. I also started my own photography club, showcased my paintings through live art and sold more than 50 paintings, and participated in the University Clubs Cup — where my team won first place! I've also had the joy of doing henna for countless people, sharing a beautiful part of my culture. I always find time for something creative afterwards including painting, playing the ukulele, photography or simply hanging out with my friends. I have always believed in trying everything and sticking to what truly brings me joy. Over time, I have built a life full of creative and adventurous hobbies. I run a photography side business where I've had the chance to shoot weddings, portraits, and even host multiple exhibitions — one of my most meaningful exhibitions was with Headspace, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Outside of that, I like to do skating, dancing, hiking and exploring the outdoors. One of the things I've fallen in love with in Australia is camping. I've made some amazing local friends, and we often go on camping trips—building our own fire, cooking under the stars, and simply soaking in nature. Managing finances was challenging in the beginning, but with a part-time job and an understanding of budgeting, I made it work. I worked around 7–8 hours a week as a student ambassador. I focused on needs over wants, but always left space for spontaneous adventures. My mother also supported me when needed, and I learnt to be financially responsible without compromising on the experience. Studying abroad has completely changed my outlook on life. I've become more independent, open to new experiences, and confident in taking ownership of my choices. What I like most about Wollongong is how close it is to nature while still having a city vibe. It has everything—great hikes, beautiful beaches, cafes, clubs, and a fun student atmosphere. It's also affordable, which makes it easier to enjoy student life without too much stress. I think putting myself out there really helped me make the most of my student experience in Australia. Having a positive mindset, being open to learning from every situation — especially the tough ones — and always showing up with honesty and good intentions made a big difference. People are genuinely kind here, and when you're honest and real, it helps build trust. On the professional side, go to as many networking events as you can! It's an amazing way to step out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and create meaningful opportunities by simply showing up. For now, I want to keep building my career in marketing and growing as a creative professional. Now that I have graduated, I work full-time as a Communications and Digital Marketing Officer. I recently completed a short course in Brand Management from the University of London and would love to pursue a Master's degree or even an MBA in the future. As for returning to India — I'm open to where life leads me. If the best decision down the line is to go back home, I'll embrace it. But for now, I'm here to learn, explore, and make the most of every moment. (This letter is part of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences — students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics) Mridusmita Deka covers education and has worked with the Careers360 previously. She is an alumnus of Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University. ... Read More
AU Financial Review
26-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Wollongong: The coastal city leading an entrepreneurial revolution
In recent years, Wollongong has become a hub for start-ups and the young entrepreneurs who want to build their businesses in a forward-thinking supportive community. For starters, launching a start-up away from the major cities is more cost-effective, which reduces the risk of scaling a business. And entrepreneurs can get stuck into creating their business while still enjoying a thriving coastal lifestyle. Wollongong's smaller size also lends itself to a supportive business community, where people genuinely want to network and build things together. Then there's the University of Wollongong (UOW), which creates a steady pipeline of high-performing research, tech and engineering graduates ready for the hire. Leading this revolution is iAccelerate. Established in 2016, iAccelerate is one of Australia's largest and longest running business accelerators providing entrepreneurs with the skills, mentorship and business connections to be successful. Located at UOW's Innovation Campus, the world-class business incubator has been instrumental in supporting more than 385 start-up and scale-up companies, and was named as a finalist in the prestigious 2024 Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards. iAccelerate director Dr Tamantha Stutchbury describes the program as a 'lightning rod for innovation'. 'Central to our values is the belief that anyone can be an entrepreneur,' says Stutchbury. 'That's why the program actively supports underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship, from women to First Nations, and culturally and linguistically diverse entrepreneurs.'
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Oliver the 'Cash King' was hit with a $97 fine after parking on campus - now he's taking university to court
A budding law student who refused to pay for campus parking using card or an app will take his university to court after he was slogged with a $97 fine. Oliver Griffiths, 21, has slammed the University of Wollongong (UOW)'s app where students pay for parking - arguing it excludes those who prefer to use cash. The fourth-year student downloaded the app, CellOPark, but didn't like how it bulk-billed him at the end of the month instead of every time he parked. The $40 deduction eventually put a restriction on his debit card, so Mr Griffiths stopped using the app and placed a handwritten note on his car instead. He wrote that he was happy to pay for parking - as long as it was with cash. Despite his efforts, he was slapped with a $97 fine. Mr Griffiths now plans to fight the fine in local court and has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for his legal fees - which has so far raised $500 of its $5,000 goal. 'I am doing this out of principle - that cash is fundamental to the economic and personal freedom of Australians, it is our LEGAL TENDER and should not be refused for essential services, and that banks should not have the excessive control over our lives as they currently do,' he wrote on the fundraiser. Mr Griffiths wrote on the GoFundMe he didn't have the money or legal backing to take his case to court so was relying on his own research and preparation. 'My name is Oliver and I am a fourth year law student at the University of Wollongong. On campus, like most universities, we have paid-parking,' he wrote. 'Raises over $3million from students per year. Around the start of second semester last year, UOW implemented 'cashless parking'. 'They require us to use an app called CelloPark which takes our car's registration details and bulk bills our parking fees. A few times, I have been short on 'digital cash' due to bills, textbooks and other payments - but I have always had cash. 'Since I discovered this change, I have always left a note on my windscreen offering to pay for my parking in cash and providing my contact details. 'I was issued a fine for the first time recently. I have until May 20 to take my claim to court, and I suspect my case will have grounds for appeal.' A spokesperson for the university said CellOPark app was good for students as they only had to pay parking for the time they were there. 'However, UOW still retains parking ticket machines that accept cash, including at each of the four major casual car parks on the Wollongong Campus,' they said. 'There are also card-only machines, which provide another alternative to CellOPark.'
The Star
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Living lab for green solutions
Norazlina (left), Prof Hiew (third from right) and Srii (right) with representatives of several companies during the Sustainability Living Lab soft launch at UOW Shah Alam campus. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star A PRIVATE university in Malaysia has created a research arm where students, academics and their collaborators can test ideas and collect data to advance planetary and human health. University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia's Sustainability Living Lab (SLL) offers companies an opportunity to test and validate their green solutions in a real-world setting. UOW Malaysia School of Engineering senior Nishata Royan Rajendran Royan, who is lead coordinator of SLL, said all studies and tests would be conducted by the university's faculty members, students and researchers. 'Supervision is provided by academic experts based on the project scope and is overseen by the SLL committee. 'For technical and environmental projects, the School of Engineering leads the process with active participation from students and lecturers to ensure academic quality and practical relevance. 'Depending on the nature of the project, industrial grants or consultancy fees may apply, and academic supervision or research assistance may be compensated accordingly.' Nishata said this at the soft launch of SLL, in conjunction with UOW Malaysia's sixth Engineering Research Symposium. Also present were Australian Trade and Investment Commission business development manager (education) Srii Gunaseelan, Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation lead of future tech Norazlina Md Sani and the university's vice-chancellor Prof Dr Hiew Pang Leang. In attendance too were representatives of several companies testing or developing their systems with SLL. Nishata said support offered by SLL included access to specialised software, technical know-how from academic staff, student research teams, facilities such as laboratories, prototyping equipment, testbeds and data analytics tools. In line with its green theme, she said SLL was open to exploring pilot projects that aligned with the university's sustainability goals, such as rainwater harvesting systems, smart organic waste composting, energy-saving devices, circular economy, green composite material or low-risk environmental prototypes. 'Each proposal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis,' she added. In his speech, Prof Hiew called the SLL project a mindset shift. 'Our campus becomes a living, evolving ecosystem where sustainability ambitions are tested, improved and eventually expanded beyond our gates. Today is just the beginning,' he said. On examples of ongoing projects between SLL and its current industry partners, Nishata cited a company that would be installing an air cooling system in the 24-hour study area at the university's Shah Alam campus. Unlike conventional air-conditioning systems, the new system utilises natural convection to cool a space without relying on mechanical fans. This initiative is being implemented on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis, with the goal of enhancing thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption. Also on display at the event were innovations created by the School of Engineering final-year students. These included a safety construction hat with a built-in cooling system, and a vertical farm with an automatic watering system that could also detect pests. There was also a waste segregation system that could automatically sort out cardboard, plastic and aluminium cans, as well as a recyclable material made from a combination of rice husk and thermoplastic polymer.
Malay Mail
25-04-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
New techniques uncover how climate ‘upheaval' led to the extinction of Australia's giant kangaroos
SYDNEY, April 25 — Giant prehistoric kangaroos perished when 'climate upheaval' turned lush Australian rainforest into desert, scientists said yesterday after studying ancient fossils with new techniques. Weighing as much as 170 kilogrammes (375 pounds) — almost twice as hefty as the chunkiest living kangaroos — the extinct 'Protemnodon' bounded across Australia as many as five million years ago. Researchers were able to recreate the foraging habits of one population by matching long-lived chemicals from fossilised teeth to recently unearthed rocks. Similarities in chemical composition helped to mark how far the kangaroos hopped in search of food. 'Imagine ancient GPS trackers,' said Queensland Museum scientist Scott Hocknull. 'We can use the fossils to track individuals, where they moved, what they ate, who they lived with and how they died — it's like Palaeo Big Brother.' Lead researcher and UOW PhD candidate Chris Laurikainen Gaete with a tooth fossil from a giant kangaroo. — Picture by Chris Laurikainen Gaete and Scott Hocknull Scientists found the mega-herbivores lived in what was then a verdant rainforest — barely venturing far from home to forage. The rainforest started to wither around 300,000 years ago as the region's climate turned 'increasingly dry and unstable'. 'The giant kangaroos' desire to stay close to home, during a time of major climate upheaval 300,000 years ago, likely contributed to their demise,' the researchers said. Species of giant kangaroo survived in other parts of Australia and Papua New Guinea, with the last populations surviving until around 40,000 years ago. Scientist Anthony Dosseto said the new techniques could be used to better understand the disappearance of Australia's megafauna. Prehistoric species of giant echidna, wombat-like marsupials weighing over two tonnes, and hulking flesh-eating lizards once roamed the Australian continent. 'The debate about the extinction of the Australian megafauna has been going on for decades, but now we can take it to an individual and species-by-species perspective,' said Dosseto, from the Wollongong Isotope Geochronology Lab. 'With these precise techniques, each site and each individual can now be used to test and build more accurate extinction scenarios.' The findings were published in peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. — ETX Studio
