In 2002 when Nicholas Perera was searching for an overseas study destination, his friends and family could not understand why he chose to come to South Australia when both the UK and the US seemed like better options.
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| Nicholas Perera |
Now with both a Graduate Diploma in E-commerce and a Master of Information Systems from the University of South Australia under his belt, Nicholas knows he made the right choice.“What I had read about Australia and South Australia was that it was easygoing, friendly, multicultural, safe and full of opportunities,” he says.“And while it was a bit tough coming here without knowing anyone at all – it was also an adventure and one in which I got lots of support from my University community at the University of South Australia (UniSA).” Today Nicholas is an Australian citizen and working for Austraining as a senior case manager providing support for Endeavour Award winners.
Austraining International is a specialist project management and international development organisation managing bilateral and multilateral projects throughout Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East and owned by the SA Government.
Nicholas says the Endeavour Awards were established to develop on-going educational, research and professional links between individuals, organisations and countries by providing opportunities for high achieving individuals from Australia and overseas to increase their skills and enhance their global awareness.
“I love the work because I am able to work with people to make a difference and support their aspirations and their adjustment here in South Australia or prepare them to work overseas, something I have some real experience in,” he smiles.Nicholas says his own University of South Australia study experience was fantastic.
“It was really everything, from easy access to the internet and computer pools right through to the friendliness and approachability of your lecturers - it really is such a student- focussed university,” he says.“And the great thing about UniSA is that if you do well, your potential is noticed.
For me it meant I had opportunities to tutor at university and through staff, to work on real life project management tasks in a business context while I was completing my studies.
“The past 10 years have been a wonderful experience.
I’ve learned so much, met so many wonderful people and now feel very satisfied with my work. I look back and think what a great decision I made to come to study at the University of South Australia.”
You can learn more about studying Business at the University of South Australia from Jenny Arkun, UniSA International Business Development Officer who will be in Colombo at the Australian Government organised Australian Education Excellence Showcase 2012 at Taj Samudra on 25 Feb 2012 to discuss your study options.
Article published with the assistance of:
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), Colombo-Sri Lanka.
Contact: David Samuel, Business Development Manager, Email: David.Samuel@austrade.gov.au |
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