Ten Swinburne students have received the inaugural Giles Family Foundation Semester Exchange Grant which provides generous financial support for students to study abroad for a semester.
The donor of the scholarship, Michael Giles, is a Swinburne alum who graduated from a Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2012.
During his time at university, Michael was the recipient of a study abroad scholarship and appreciates the transformational experiences overseas study can offer. Today, Michael wants to support other Swinburne students who are keen to spread their wings and study overseas.
Meet some of the scholarship recipients
Matthew Cousins is a product design engineering student who will be studying at Tec de Monterrey in Mexico.
Why did you choose to go to Mexico for your exchange?
I’ve always been interested in Mexican and Latin American culture. The vibrancy, the fun-hearted people, as well as an amazing country and continent. I’m excited to experience a culture so different and really ‘live’ in Mexico, rather than just pass through.
The city of Monterrey is also a major industrial hub for the continent. This provides a great opportunity for me to learn, as well as develop my professional abilities and experience.
What does it mean to you to receive this grant from the Giles Family?
First and foremost, receiving this grant was an honour. Having the extra funding from the Giles family adds a layer of comfort for me to fully focus on my experience without the additional financial stress of supporting myself in another country. This security blanket has already helped me before my trip even started. Three weeks before my departure, my laptop broke and with the cover from the Giles family, I was comfortable in choosing to invest in a new, reliable computer.
What are you looking forward to about your exchange and what do you hope to get out of it?
I’m really excited to live in a new country, not just travel. This will allow me to really experience a different culture in a new way. I’m also excited to rebound from my exchange into travel through Central and South America. I think there is also real opportunity for personal growth and development through this experience. I’m excited by the opportunity to learn a new language. Mexico has few English speakers and as of today I know very little Spanish language. In Mexico, I’ll be throwing myself in the deep end, so I’ll have to learn how to swim pretty quickly!
Claire Stanley is a third-year Bachelor of Media and Communications/Business student who will be studying at the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg.
Why did you choose to go to Denmark for your exchange?
I was drawn to Denmark’s unique culture and way of living, its historic surroundings, and the quality education available. I have never visited the country previously, but my decision was solidified when I discovered the extensive and exceptionally well-developed exchange program offered by my host university.
What does it mean to you to receive this grant from the Giles Family?
The generosity of the Giles family in offering this grant means that I have the freedom to explore every opportunity that becomes available to me while I am overseas. It means I can really immerse myself in my education, co-curricular activities and broader travels throughout Denmark and Europe. It is a true privilege to be a recipient of such generosity.
What are you looking forward to about your exchange and what do you hope to get out of it?
I am really excited about immersing myself in Denmark’s culture and way of living. I hope to strengthen my personal and professional network, and I look forward to making life-long memories with new people. This overseas exchange allows me the chance to foster future employment opportunities and strengthen my independence, while giving me the opportunity to travel abroad.
Brandon Iorfida-Costanzo is a second-year Bachelor of Business Information Technology (Professional) student who will be studying at Yonsei University in South Korea.
Why did you decide to choose to go to South Korea for your exchange?
My decision primarily came from my interest in the country’s technological expertise, as witnessing how South Koreans apply technology into their daily lives will help me deepen my understanding of my major in Business Technology. I also chose South Korea as I love how starkly different their culture and environment is to Australia.
What does it mean to you to receive this grant from the Giles Family?
Knowing there are individuals willing to support my overseas exchange and enable me to make the most of my experience in South Korea is something that I am truly grateful for and inspired by. This grant from the Giles Family will allow me to explore more of Korea, deeply immersing myself in the culture I love.
What are you looking forward to about your exchange and what do you hope to get out of it?
Having never travelled overseas before or been away from my family for a long period of time, I look forward to learning more about who I am and my capabilities through experiencing new challenges. I am also a very reserved person, so I hope to come out of my shell a bit more by building connections with locals and fellow exchange students, each enriching the experience with their unique cultural backgrounds. On the academic front, my aim is to gain a fresh perspective on the practical applications of technology in the workforce, immersing myself in how South Koreans optimise technology to be efficient as possible.
Charlotte Cumming is a Bachelor of Media and Communications (Professional) student majoring in cinema and screen studies. She will be studying at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea.
Why did you choose to go to South Korea for your exchange?
I chose to study in South Korea due to the increasing success and scale of its media industries, in particular film, television and music. In a short amount of time, South Korea has overcome cultural boundaries and produced some of the most successful and highest quality content amongst today’s media landscape. I would love to one day be able to partake in creating and distributing the material South Korea produces.
What does it mean to you to receive this grant from the Giles Family?Receiving the Giles Family grant means the chance for me to take full advantage of my exchange experience and harness all the benefits a semester abroad has to offer. I will be able to not only study in South Korea but undertake other opportunities and explore South Korea to a greater depth and quality.
What are you looking forward to about your exchange and what do you hope to get out of it?
Every aspect about my exchange excites me, from meeting people, living in a new environment, learning a new language and becoming more independent and that just scratches the surface. I hope to truly grow as an individual, whilst enjoying myself and broadening the possibilities within my future.
