More than 1,000 students from around the world gathered at Sydney Town Hall last night to be officially welcomed to their new home town.
The international student reception comes as Sydney was this year named the world’s most ‘desirable’ study destination in the internationally recognised QS Best Student Cities Index.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Sydney has further cemented its position as a world-class education destination with exceptional lifestyle choices.
“I am delighted to welcome overseas students to our magnificent city, with its leading educational institutions and research facilities offering first-class study opportunities,” the Lord May said.
“These international students will form friendships, business networks and lasting ties to the city. I’m sure this will be the start of a wonderful journey that will open new doors and broaden their horizons.”
Organised by the University of Technology, Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, Study NSW and TAFE with support from the City, the annual celebration hosts students from different disciplines and instituations across Sydney.
ABC journalist Jeremy Fernandez was MC at the reception and international student ambassadors addressed the students, including Natasha Munasinghe, who arrived in Sydney from Fiji 14 years ago to study law at Sydney University.
“Arriving in Sydney as a 19-year-old was a real eye-opener. It was such a multi-cultural city and I quickly built up a network of friends from around the world, with many of them still friends today,” said Natahsa, who lives and works in Sydney.
“My advice to the new students is to jump right in and get involved – join the university clubs, societies and travel groups.
“I’ve found people in Sydney are happy to give back and offer amazing support to young students willing to give it a go. My first jobs came from my lecturers and people I met at university. This is truly a wonderful opportunity.”
To help students safely settle into the city, 18 stalls were set up at the reception offering professional advice and guidance from a range of groups, including the police, health, employment, accommodation and legal services. There will also be information on international student support programs.
This is the 12th time the Lord Mayor has welcomed international students to the harbour city.
“Over the past 10 years, NSW has attracted one-third of Australia’s 500,000 international students, with the majority of them based in Sydney,” the Lord Mayor said.
“These students help make Sydney a diverse and vibrant city, that is home to people from almost 200 different nations.”
According to Department of Education and Training figures, in 2015 there were 498,155 international students enrolled in Australia, a 10 per cent increase from 2014.
The federal government’s International Student Data for NSW shows:
- Students from 190 countries are studying in the state;
- The top five international student countries are China, Japan, India, South Koea and Indonesia. They make up 51% of international student enrolments;
- There are more than 50,000 international university students in Sydney and another 50,000 vocational and English-language students; and
- There are close to 40,000 international students at university campuses in the inner-city area.
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Belinda Wallis on 02 8974 4153 or bwallis@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Paul Mackay on 0432 182 647 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au