Read the Report

In August 2020, 162 students came together to discuss the future of student mobility. Our report, From Dialogue to Action, reflects the rich experiences and ideas of these students. Combining personal stories with incisive commentary, this report makes 29 recommendations for improving outward mobility from Australia.


IPSMYD Report

Indo-Pacific Student Mobility Dialogue

The Indo-Pacific Student Mobility Youth Dialogue is a new initiative to bring together Australian students to discuss the future of international education and mobility. The Dialogue will encourage Australian students to reflect on, and provide practical recommendations for improving, overseas study programs. 

The Dialogue will focus on outward student mobility from Australia to the Indo-Pacific region. 

The Dialogue is scheduled for 7-9pm AEST, 26th August 2020 and will take place on Zoom.

Applications are open now and will close Sunday 2 August. 

Meet the Convenors

The Dialogue has been coordinated by a coalition of youth diplomacy organisations:

We are all passionate about encouraging meaningful mobility experiences for Australian students.

Why are we running the Dialogue ?

Student mobility plays an important role for both students and governments. For students, overseas study offers an opportunity to experience new cultures and be exposed to new ways of thinking. For governments, student mobility is a strategic tool for building stronger people-to-people relations around the world. Australia has a strong tradition of international mobility; approximately one in five Australian undergraduate students complete an overseas educational experience.

COVID-19 has resulted in study exchanges and mobility programs being cancelled across Australia and the globe. Enforced immobility has made us reckon with some fundamental questions:

  • What is student mobility and what is its value?
  • Can in-country experiences be replicated online?
  • What can be done to build people-to-people relations when travel is impossible?
  • How can we improve student mobility in the future, especially through better utilisation of technology?

Now is the time to ask these questions—a pause in international travel provides an opportune moment to improve how we approach mobility. This Dialogue will document student perspectives and ideas to assist in re-imagining mobility programs in a post-COVID-19 world. 

How will the Dialogue create impact?

After the Dialogue, we will work with delegates to compile a report capturing ideas and recommendations for student mobility programs. This report will be delivered to key stakeholders and decision-makers, including universities, the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

What is involved in the Dialogue?

Delegates can expect two hours of jam-packed discussion, reflection and ideation. The programme includes:

  1. A keynote address from Professor Ly Tran about the future of international education. 
  2. Two 30-minute discussions in small break-out groups on pressing topics relating to student mobility.
  3. A fast-paced speed friending session with other delegates  

Meet our keynote speaker

Ly Tran (PhD) is a Professor in the School of Education, Deakin University and an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. Her research focuses on internationalisation of education, student mobility, learning abroad, and Vietnamese higher education. She leads a four-year project funded by the Australian Research Council on the impacts of Australian students’ learning and engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Her books and papers have won a range of awards, including the International Education Association of Australia Excellence Award for Best Practice/Innovation in International Education.

Why you should join?

Leadership: We are living in uncertain times. Opportunities like the Indo-Pacific Student Mobility Youth Dialogue give you the opportunity to develop your communication and advocacy skills and demonstrate your leadership.

Networking: The Dialogue will be an awesome opportunity to meet like-minded people and connect with youth diplomacy organisations. Through your break-out discussions and facilitated speed-friending, you will meet passionate students from across Australia. You will also have the chance to chat with representatives from various youth diplomacy organisations, who will be moderating the break-out discussions. 

Thought leadership: Be part of youth-led advocacy aspiring for improved student mobility experiences. This is an opportunity to co-design a student-focused report which will be used by key decision-makers. All delegates will be recognised for their contributions and participation in the final report. Apply now to be part of this one-of-a-kind student-focused thought leadership.

Develop valuable skills: Delegates will be required to use a variety of skills at the Dialogue, including effectively communicating their ideas and translating their ideas into policy recommendations. These skills are critical for becoming job-ready, especially in policy-focused or diplomatic careers.

What will be discussed?

When you apply for the Dialogue, you will get to nominate your top three preferences for discussion topics. 

Discussions topics include:

  • Mental health
  • Physical and psychological safety
  • Culture shock
  • Physical wellbeing and sexual health 
  • Support for LGBTQI+ students
  • Making friends and building support networks 
  • Religion
  • Navigating different educational systems
  • The logistics of student mobility
  • Personal finance
  • Working during student mobility
  • Language
  • Returning home – now what? 
  • Future of mobility

Is there a topic you want to discuss that isn’t reflected above? Add your discussion topic ideas in the Other section of your application.

Eligibility criteria?

There are two eligibility criteria for the Dialogue:

  1. Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is either studying or has completed their studies in Australia in the last 3 years
  2. Have been on, or aspire to go on, a global mobility experience

Apply now

The application process for the Dialogue is short and straightforward. You will be required to provide some basic personal information, followed by four questions:

  • Why are you interested in attending the Dialogue?
  • In your opinion, what is the biggest barrier preventing students from participating in student mobility programs (semester-long exchanges/ short-term exchanges/language study/overseas internships etc.?)
  • What do you think the future of student mobility will look like post COVID-19? 
  • What are you hoping to get out of participating in the Dialogue? 

Applications will close 11:59pm AEST, 2 August 2020.
Application outcomes will be advised in early August.

Indo-Pacific Student Mobility Youth Dialogue Application Form

Partners

Contact Us

Don’t hesitate to contact us at mobilitydialogue@aasyp.org for further details or queries.

Registered charity

AASYP is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.

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