Asanka Thewara Hannadige has been studying the Bachelor of Applied Aquaculture degree course at NMIT (Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE) in Australia since the 2008 academic year. After beginning studies on Fisheries and Marine Science at the National Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Asanka developed a strong desire to go abroad to study, and to specialize more in the exciting field of Aquaculture.

Knowing that aquaculture was popular in Sri Lanka because of the richness of inland water bodies and ground water resources that are available, Asanka also realized the common practice of pond culture had its limitations. With future developments, such as the more efficient use of land and water resources and improved technology such as highly intensive Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) on the horizon, Asanka wanted to be familiar with the latest and greatest technology to allow him to make a solid contribution to the industry.

Now at the halfway point of the course, Asanka is thrilled with where he is heading. "I am just so happy that my dream is becoming a reality", he says. He selected Australia as he heard it was one of the best countries in terms of gaining quality higher education. His scouring of the Internet and the assistance of student services led him towards considering a variety of options, but one pathway in particular really stood out.

"I believe that a subject like Aquaculture is a practical area dealing with living organisms. Universities have a formal structure for teaching, and generally feature large numbers of students in lecture rooms with somewhat limited opportunities for interaction, and a relatively small number of practical sessions. I found it difficult as an undergraduate to learn in such an environment, and I wanted a change. When I heard about the programme at NMIT, it immediately got my attention."

Knowing that TAFE colleges (Technical and Further Education; similar to the Technical Colleges in Sri Lanka) are more closely aligned with industry and aim specifically to provide trained personnel, Asanka had more faith in the idea of vocational degrees at TAFE than in the university system. "I wanted to have a degree qualification, but wanted a wide variety of skills and a good balance of knowledge in both theoretical and practical areas. That is my dream".

A typical day at NMIT involves a half-day theory class in the morning and a practical class in the afternoon that allows the students to develop and implement the ideas they picked up from the morning session. "This keeps the topics interesting and makes it much easier to learn what can be challenging and complex subject areas. We have the opportunity to explore any issues and problems with what we have been learning, and ultimately are more able to make an impact when we do finally gain employment in the industry".

NMIT benefits from close associations with many industry groups, and field visits and excursions are a regular part of the tuition and training. NMIT's facilities include two commercial-scale indoor recirculating aquaculture systems, which enable students to gain valuable hands-on experience, which may be missing from some academic institutions.

"The high quality of the training and the friendly teaching staff who are always ready to help, and the small class sizes, make studying here very enjoyable", he says. For Asanka, NMIT's Bachelor of Applied Aquaculture programme has been a wonderful choice and a big step forward in his education.

NMIT offers the Bachelor of Applied Aquaculture commencing in February. Entry requirements are successful completion of GCE A-Level with passes in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, and an Academic IELTS test overall band test score of 6.0. English classes can be offered for applicants with an Academic IELTS test overall band score of 5.5. Bridging courses are also conducted in January for applicants who do not have GCE A-Level with Biology, Chemistry or Mathematics.

For more information relating to this course, please see: http://www.nmit.vic.edu.au/courses/bachelor_of_applied_aquaculture
For information on other courses offered at NMIT, please see: http://www.nmit.vic.edu.au/international_courses and for any enquiries email international@nmit.vic.edu.au