RMIT awarded for excellence in international education across student experience, employability and career development.
RMIT was awarded the prestigious Premier’s Award for International Education Provider of the Year at the International Education Awards presented by Study Melbourne.
The University also took home trophies for Excellence in International Student Experience and Excellence in International Student Employability and Career Development, completing a hat-trick of awards.
Held at the Investment Centre in Melbourne’s CBD, the award ceremony was attended by politicians, international diplomats, Victorian education providers and students hailing from around the world.
They recognise and showcase exceptional Victorian international students and alumni in Victoria’s community, and education providers who champion international education in Victoria and across the globe.
RMIT staff with Tim Pallas MP at the Awards ceremony in Melbourne
The Hon. Tim Pallas MP, Treasurer of Victoria, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Trade and Investment, delivered a keynote address and presented the awards alongside Caroline Hartnett, Acting Director, International Education at Study Melbourne, who dubbed the awards “the Oscars of international education”.
RMIT’s Awards were accepted by Saskia Loer Hansen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President International and Engagement and Niloo Farshchi, Associate Director Students Group.
Loer Hansen reflected on the significance of RMIT’s achievement and noted the importance of collaboration and connection within RMIT and externally.
“It’s testament to not only the great work of RMIT colleagues, but also to what can be achieved when there is strong collaboration between universities, employers and government,” Loer Hansen said.
Dene Cicci, Executive Director Students at RMIT, said the awards were a validation of the RMIT Students Group’s coordinated, proactive and targeted approach to supporting and empowering students, across social, career and wellbeing dimensions.
“International students are an essential part of RMIT’s community and are a welcome addition to our vibrant and inclusive campus culture,” Cicci said.
“Programs like our student outreach campaigns, mental wellbeing support, Kirrip, peer-led student activities, student clubs, career development support and immersive industry experiences have had a real impact on our students.”
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Dene Cicci, Executive Director, Students at RMIT
2023 marked the tenth year of the Awards and this milestone was reflected in the volume of applications, with Study Melbourne receiving 280 submissions from providers and students across all categories.
Finalists were announced in September, and winners were decided by an independent judging panel comprised of industry and government representatives.
Other finalists in the provider category included Deakin, Swinburne, Melbourne Polytechnic and Impact English College.
An RMIT student, PhD candidate Michelle Chen, was a finalist for international student of the year under the research category.
Impact extends to international student experience benchmarking survey
Results released earlier in October of the 2023 International Student Barometer (ISB) survey, a benchmark for international student experience, show an overall improved satisfaction in nearly all key metrics.
Professor Sherman Young, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, said the results are a testament to RMIT’s efforts to re-energise campus, create opportunities for more meaningful engagement and provide more tailored support and resources for our international students.
“This would not have been possible without the dedication of our staff across the University working together to create quality experiences for students both within and outside the classroom despite ongoing challenges,” Young said.
These efforts have had a direct reflection on the ISB results with a notable 19% increase of satisfaction with support services metric, from 71% to 90%, and a 17% increase of satisfaction with learning experience metric, from 74% to 91%.
