Thousands of new students start at Swinburne
In Summary
If you have noticed that the areas surrounding Swinburne University of Technology’s three Melbourne campuses seem to be a little busier this week, then you are correct.
Classes at Swinburne officially kicked off this week, with over 9,500 new domestic and international students, in both Vocational and Higher Education, commencing classes.
Students were introduced to their new campuses last week, as part of Swinburne’s O-week activities, which included talks from teachers, campus tours and a range of free food and entertainment.
Swinburne’s Director of Student Services, Tony Reed, said that O-week activities help students make a smooth transition into further education.
“Attending O-week is a great opportunity to make friends and get to know the people who are studying similar courses to you. It also helps you to familiarise yourself with the campus, your lecturers and the support services available to you,” Mr Reed said.
While some students may find starting university or TAFE a little nerve-racking, Mr Reed insisted that students should go in with a positive attitude.
“Clearly it can be overwhelming for new students starting university, so try to take it one step at a time,” Mr Reed said.
“Tutors and lecturers are here to guide students through their studies, as well as encourage development and engagement through their chosen course.”
For many new students, the biggest change they will notice is the sudden sense of freedom they have, according to Mr Reed.
“We often have students commenting on how different school is compared to university. Suddenly they feel as though they are being treated as an adult, and they have a lot more responsibility- especially with things like picking their subjects and timetable.
“The main thing for them to keep in mind though, is that the university has a range of services and areas to support its students - whether it be study skills, career advice or the health services - ensuring that the students get the most out of their time at Swinburne.”