Overseas study experience

West to East – Western Suburbs Students Head to China

In April 2010, the Victorian Minister for Education bid farewell or “zaijian” to 30 western suburbs students who embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime study experience to China as part of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Overseas Study Experience Program.

This experience opened the eyes of 15 Braybrook College and 15 Sunshine College Year 10 and 11 students to the Chinese culture and how they think, learn and thrive and helped the students prepare for future life as global citizens. They were accompanied by six teachers and spent time studying at schools in Suzhou and Nanjing and also visited Beijing and Shanghai.

As a result of technology and Australia’s proximity to Asia, many students will spend their working lives in multinational environments, and this Overseas Study Experience Program is another way the Department is preparing students to thrive in these modern workplaces. The experience will further the student’s cultural understanding and help them to promote cultural respect in their schools.