Breaking the Cycle

Looking outside of Sydney for University

J. A. McCreery

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY, THE TRIED AND TRUE path of the Shore boy; your father and his before most likely opted to study in its halls. Even if this is not the case, the cloistered and ever present walls of our local university can be highly appealing. 

But are we blinding ourselves to opportunity?

Both China and Singapore ranked 10 places higher than Australia in the 2019 World University Ranking conducted by the Times Higher Education Foundation

The old-boy culture of Shore is one of its greatest strengths but can also pressure students to follow a historical path which may limit them. Thus, I urge students to consider University paths beyond our horizon. To ‘break the cycle’ and seek opportunities which will enrich one’s understanding of the world’s diversity. 

The value of studying abroad is immense. 

Experiencing a different culture is both an exciting experience and a great learning opportunity. Living in a foreign country, one will encounter new customs and norms –  different food, different holidays, different ideas – which ultimately provide a new lens for viewing life. Language and cross-cultural communication skills will almost inevitably develop, alongside the ability to independently navigate the world and interact with its peoples. 

Studying abroad also provides excellent career opportunities, often proving striking on a resume. Such education offers soft skills which employers value: time management, an ability to work with ambiguity, and independence. In the modern, globalised workplace, a holistic and in-tune worldview is becoming ever more valuable and sought after, even in the local Sydney workforce.

Of the Australian students who study abroad 49% select the Indo-Pacific Region. This contrasts distinctly with conventional Shore university paths to universities in the US and UK, yet overall, only 18% of Australians studying overseas move to these countries. Are we so different from our peers that we disregard the Indo-Pacific area so ironically close to home? 

Leading destinations for Australian students abroad in 2018 – Source: AUIDF

Be careful here, do not pin your new hopes to notions of Oxbridge and the Ivy League, so often considered in tandem with their rigorous academic standards. 

Studying abroad is not only for elite students, the average Shore boy (89.05 Atar – 2020) will likely be able to gain admission to international programs; language schools and community colleges often offer admission to even the lowest ranked students if they are able to present a fitting skillset. 

The clear benefits of study abroad are unmistakable, whether that be furthering language and communication skills, cultural immersion or gaining independence. The option to study abroad is an invaluable one and as much as Shore does to further this opportunity, there is a clear need for more diverse University information and an exploration of foreign programs outside of the US and UK.