UOW Alumni Network E-news

Volume 22 August 2008

UOW Alumni Network E-News is a bi-monthly email newsletter which keeps you up-to-date with University developments and alumni activities. More information on the UOW Alumni Network is available at www.uow.edu.au/alumni/ Your suggestions and comments are always welcome. To give us your feedback, email alumni@uow.edu.au.

UOW NEWS

Innovation Campus start of a new era
NSW Premier Morris Iemma opened the first building on the University of Wollongong’s $500 million Innovation Campus (iC), in what UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton describes as the start of a new era for the Illawarra region. Read more

Gabi Hollows praises UOW’s ‘giving culture’
Fred Hollows Foundation director Gabi Hollows praised the giving culture of the University of Wollongong, saying staff who had joined the UOW Cares program were making a real difference with their donations to charities direct from their salaries.  Read more

Winter graduations attract 6000 people to UOW
The University of Wollongong played host to about 6000 people from 16-18 July when it conducted its winter graduation ceremonies. Six ceremonies were held over three days. The 6000 attendees comprised of graduands along with their families and friends. Full story

Living @ UOW News – What’s happening in the residences
Spring semester has seen record enrolments with most of the residences completely full.  O’Week  was a great success with activities such as a Bush Dance, Tour de Gong, and Café Crawls all proving very popular with new students.

Anyone who’s lived in residence would know there is always something happening.  This semester is no exception with recent highlights including WHAM (Wollongong Hosts artists from Arte Moris) at International House and the 18^th International Food Festival at Campus East.
Read more about WHAM
Read more about International Food Festival at Campus East

ALUMNI NEWS

Getting ahead – mentor program gives students job advantage
The next round of UOW graduates will be ready to tackle the competitive job market after participating in the Career Ahead program held at UOW on Friday 11 and 18 July. Successful Science and Commerce graduates provided first hand advice on job applications and interview techniques to over 50 current students in a series of mock interviews. Read more about Career Ahead 

Congratulations to our UOW Olympians!
Two sisters from the University have made the Olympic water polo team – Jenna and Mia Santoromito.  Mia is an Arts/Communications student while Jenna, is studying Business Administration/Hospitality.  UOW graduates, Zoe Uphill (Commerce/Law) and Tristan Knowles (Commerce) have made the Olympic team.  Zoe will be representing Australia on the rowing team (quad sculls) while Tristan, who was part of the Silver medal winning Rollers basketball squad at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, will be competing in Beijing to hopefully bring home another medal!  We wish all our UOW Olympians the best of luck in Beijing!

Postcards from alumni living overseas
Many UOW graduates are taking advantage of opportunities to further their career abroad. Our “Postcard” series aims to share some of their stories with you. If you’d like to read about our graduates living in Vanuatu, New York, Singapore, London and Dubai read more here.  If you are living and working overseas and would like to share your story with us, please email alumni@uow.edu.au

Campus News Magazine
The July 2008 edition of Campus News has been mailed out to all UOW graduates. If you did not receive your copy of Campus News the Alumni Office may not have your current postal address. Please update your details.

CHAPTER NEWS

Education Chapter News
The education chapter has been busy as usual providing an array of services to students, staff and alumni and adding value to the University of Wollongong.

The mentored mock interview program is one initiative that provides an opportunity for hundreds of final year education students to receive interview experience from credible educators. School principals and executives give a day of voluntary service to the Faculty of Education to provide students with feedback on their understanding of teaching and learning. This year the program was honoured by the UOW Centre for Educational Development and Interactive Resources (CEDIR) who produced a poster and video clip celebrating this initiative.

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

Opportunity to undertake postgraduate studies at the world’s best universities on scholarship

• The General Sir John Monash Awards offer up to $150,000 over three years for students recently graduated from an Australian University to undertake postgraduate studies at the worlds best universities appropriate to your chosen field of study. For more information visit http://www.monashawards.org/home.asp
• The Robert Menzies Memorial Foundation is offering up to three post-graduate scholarships in law for tenure at universities in the United Kingdom. For details visit http://www.menziesfoundation.org.au/
• Lionel Murphy Foundation is offering one year scholarships for an Australian or overseas university in Law or Science. For further information, visit http://lionelmurphy.anu.edu.au/index.htm

Time to go back to Uni?
Whether you want a new job, a bigger salary or simply crave mental stimulation, a postgraduate qualification from UOW can open up a world of opportunities. And if you are worried about balancing life, work and study commitments, all postgraduate degrees offered at UOW can be studied part-time. By taking one or two subjects per session it’s easy to balance your life, work and study. Think about 2009. Apply today! Course Finder

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALUMNI

Support the 2008 Annual Fund
Would you like to support pioneering researchers in the fight against breast cancer and prostate cancer, and determined students following in the footsteps of alumni like you? Support for the Annual Fund will enable Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld and his team of researchers to make significant inroads in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and prostate cancer. In addition, the Annual Fund will provide scholarships for UOW students enabling them to put their best foot forward and make the most of their higher education. Donate now to the 2008 Annual Fund to inspire talented UOW researchers and students. Find out more and donate online at http://www.uow.edu.au/donations/

International Friendship Program
The International Friendship Program links international students studying at the University of Wollongong with members of the Wollongong community for the purpose of cross-cultural friendship. This is a free program which helps international students learn about the Australian lifestyle and helps community members learn about the cultures of our students from around the world. 

It is hoped that the friendly contact provided through the program may assist students to settle in more comfortably to their new surroundings. We are currently looking for community members to participate in the program as hosts to international students, many of whom have recently arrived in Australia and are eager to make friends. For further information about the program please contact Kate Hansen, khansen@uow.edu.au or phone 02 4221 3158.

Public Lecture: What do we know about why people become Terrorists?
The third session of the Uni in the Brewery series for 2008 will be held on Wednesday 20 August at 5.30pm. Dr Adam Dolnik, Director of Research Programs and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention (CTCP) at the University of Wollongong will present. This presentation will evaluate the successes and failures of the academic field of terrorism studies, specifically in relation to the issue of terrorist motivations. Full event information

Education Chapter Social Event
The Chapter is planning a social event at UOW to be held on Wednesday 24th September from 5.00pm-6.30pm which will include a short presentation of the Chapter's achievements and future directions. Put the date in your diaries and let us know if you will be able to attend. RSVP to Kerrie Eyding, keyding@uow.edu.au or Lenore Armour, larmour@uow.edu.au and we will confirm the location and details in the near future.

Save with UOW Alumni Discounts
Don’t forget to use your UOW Alumni Benefits Card. You can receive great savings on a range of products and services, from car hire and accommodation to computer equipment and clothing. Full list of alumni discounts