Game-changing

experiences in a
globalised world.
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CONTENTS
MISC 2015 04
The Organisers 06
Our Partners 08
Highlights from 2014
09
Provisional Program
10
Sponsorship 17
Contact Us 23

MISC 2015 September 5-6

For international students
In 2015, the conference will focus on helping students:

Develop the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures

Gain insight to Asias growing influence
Carve out the kind of experiences necessary to thrive in a globalised world

For Australian students

Not just an event for international students, the conference is an ideal starting point for
Australian students to:

Exchange ideas, culture and experiences with students from Asia and other parts of the
world
Explore opportunities to travel and work overseas
Network and build useful contacts

For industry NEW

A dedicated industry stream offering international education stakeholders the opportunity to:

Gain exclusive on-the-ground insights that will help drive student engagement in a
meaningful and impactful way
Hear from students directly on their everyday living experiences, information and social
media consumption habits and other key topics
Consult and collaborate with students to solve issues and challenges

The Melbourne International Student Conference is an annual

event bringing together students interested in developing
themselves personally and professionally, and figuring out
how they should engage each other and the world of work in
a global marketplace.

Game-changing experiences in a
globalised world.
In its second year, the theme for this years conference is Game-changing
experiences in a globalised world, and will focus on helping students
develop the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures, gain
insight to Asias growing influence, and carving out the kind of experiences
necessary to thrive in a globalised world.
Not just an event for international students, the conference is an ideal starting
point for Australian students to exchange ideas, culture and experiences
with students from Asia and other parts of the world, network and build
useful contacts along the way, and explore opportunities to travel and work
overseas.
New to the Melbourne International Student Conference this year is the
introduction of a dedicated industry stream for international education
stakeholders. Over the two days, industry delegates will be able to gain
exclusive on-the-ground insights that will help drive student engagement in a
meaningful and impactful way. Hear from todays international students about
their everyday living experiences, information and social media consumption
habits, hopes and aspirations, frustrations and disappointments, and work
with them to find ways to solve issues and challenges to deliver better
outcomes for students.

Some 200-250 delegates are expected to attend.

THE ORGANISERS
City of Melbourne
To ensure Melbourne is the global destination of choice by celebrating students
contribution to our city and providing outstanding opportunities in education,
employment and life.
The City of Melbourne has played an active leadership role within the international education
sector in Australia for the past decade and has an ongoing commitment to achieve the best
possible outcomes for international students.
The City of Melbourne International Student Strategy 201317 recognises the unique
contribution international students make to the city. It describes the beneficial impacts on our
retail, employment, housing and knowledge sectors, sets a direction to grow our vision of
Melbourne as the global international student destination of choice and recognises the key
challenges that international students may face as they live and study in Melbourne.
The Strategy builds on and integrates Councils work across the organisation and has been
developed in line with the City of Melbournes Council Plan 2013-17 focusing on goals that
build A City for People, A Knowledge City and a Prosperous City.
By achieving these goals we will maintain our reputation as one of the worlds most
welcoming, cosmopolitan and liveable cities and continue to position Melbourne as the
knowledge capital of Australia and a global knowledge city. We will work to attract and retain
international students beyond their student years ensuring they build life-long connections
with our city.
Website:
melbourne.vic.gov.au/internationalstudents
Facebook:
facebook.com/melbourneinternationalstudents
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Meld Magazine
Meld Magazine, a not-for-profit community news organisation for international students,
was established in 2008 in response to a need within the community. The website aims
to give international students a voice and reflect the full picture of the international student
experience.
The organisation has a unique model of aligning the efforts of its student volunteers with
their studies and providing opportunities for learning, industry exposure and relevant work
experience.
Access to all content on Melds website is free, relevant and relates to international students
across diverse social and economic backgrounds.
As well as being a media outlet, Meld actively hosts events and activities for international
students, giving them opportunities to share experiences and build personal relationships.
Melds practical skills-based workshops also help students to create professional networks
and boost their career and employment opportunities.
Meld was the recipient of the Excellence in International Student Experience award at the
2014 Victorian International Education Awards, and was cited in the Australian Human Rights
Commissions Principles to promote and protect the human rights of international students,
October 2012, as a good practice example.
Website:
meldmagazine.com.au
Facebook:
facebook.com/meldmagazine
Twitter:
@meldmagazine
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Our Partners
Foundation for Young Australians (FYA)
Connecting young people, governments and business, FYA delivers a range of initiatives
co-designed with and for young people to deliver change across Australia. The only national
independent non-profit organisation dedicated to all young people in Australia, FYA plays an
important role in providing the tools and connections that equip them to change their world.

Australian Federation of International Students (AFIS)

AFIS is a non-profit community organisation established in August 2002 to address issues
particular to international students. The organisation is committed to generating multicultural
awareness and planning cultural events in the general community. Their primary aim is to
create awareness among students about the diversity of activities available to them, and
enrich their experience of living and studying in Australia.

Tertiary Scholarship Fund (TSF)

Established in 2005, the Tertiary Scholarship Fund was created to encourage academic
excellence and community involvement of students enrolled at tertiary institutions across
Victoria.

Centrethought
Centrethought is an online publication aimed at encouraging young people to become more
aware of and engaged with the social and political issues that are facing the world today. The
site is politically unaligned, and is comprised of young people who come from a diverse array
of academic and cultural backgrounds.

#MISC2014

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2014

Watch our video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAuWltVddTs

Event overview

100 university students from Victoria and interstate

30 sessions over two days
15 guest speakers
25 industry representatives
32 local and international student volunteers

PROVISIONAL PROGRAM
DAY 1 - Saturday 05 September 2015
9.00 9.30 AM REGISTRATION

9.30 10.00 AM WELCOME AND OPENING ADDRESS

Speaker: TBC

10.00 11.00 AM KEYNOTE

TOPIC: TBC
Speaker: TBC
Graduation marks the end and the beginning of a whole new
chapter in a young persons life. MISCs Day 1 keynote follows the
lives of former international students and where theyre at now.
From artists, scientists, chefs, and tech geeks to entrepreneurs and
more, speakers are invited to share their achievements and stories,
and encourage and inspire other students to contemplate the
possibilities after graduation.
In 2014, Malaysian artist-architect Red Hong Yi shared
her personal journey from life as an international student in
Melbourne to becoming the world-renown artist who loves to
paint, but not with a paintbrush.

11.00 11.30 AM MORNING TEA / NETWORKING

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11.30 1.00 PM WORKSHOP

CULTURAL COMPETENCY IN A GLOBALISED WORLD
Facilitator: TBC
Youve heard of IQ and EQ, but what about CQ? Cultural
intelligence, or cultural quotient (CQ) has quickly become the new
differentiator for career advancement in an era where technology
has made distance nearly irrelevant, and employers are looking for
talent that can navigate different cultures in a global marketplace.
This workshop uses the challenges that local and international
students face in the classroom around collaboration, communication
and integration as a springboard for exploring the cultural biases
and dynamics at play, and learning how to communicate effectively
with individuals who speak a different language or take different
approaches to achieve a common goal.
At the end of the workshop, students should walk away with a
basic knowledge of communication across cultures and value
the opportunities that campus life offers to develop their cultural
competency.

1.00 2.00 PM LUNCHTIME TRIVIA COMPETITION

Hosted by Centrethought

2.00 5.00 PM SPLIT STREAM MINI WORKSHOPS

TEACH ANYTHING GOOD (TAG)
TAG acknowledges that we all have something to give, and possess
knowledge and ideas worth sharing. Specialists, hobbyists and
students across different organisations and education institutions,
areas of expertise and community interest groups will impart their
know-how on a diverse range of topics in more than 20 workshops
over an afternoon.
STUDENTS
TAG sessions in 2015 will focus on helping students become fit for
life, with workshops exploring different aspects of their lives from
their personal life, to work life and social life.
20 workshops
Topics TBC

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INDUSTRY - NEW
Student presentations combined with data from surveys, focus
groups and interviews conducted in the lead-up to the conference
will provide industry stakeholders exclusive on-the-ground insights
to help drive student engagement in a meaningful and impactful
way.
Workshop 1 Life beyond the classroom
Whats a typical day for the average international student? This
workshop looks at just how students are spending their time outside
the classroom and the kinds of experiences they are looking for.
Workshop 2 Engaging students online
What are the media consumption habits of international students?
This workshop draws on insights gleaned from media diaries kept
by students at Trinity College Foundation Studies from the minute
they wake to when the lights are out.
Workshop 3 International students today
Do international students today need to be engaged differently
from generations before? This workshop seeks to understand
international students today and how programs and outreach need
to evolve and respond to this new generation.
Workshop 4 The local and international student divide
Why arent they connecting? This workshop explores expectations
of local and international students on campus life, their experiences
and honest opinions good, bad and ugly.

7.30 8.30 PM TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND AWARD CEREMONY - NEW

OPTIONAL
Established in 2005, the Tertiary Scholarship Fund (TSF) was
created to encourage academic excellence and community
involvement of students enrolled at tertiary institutions across
Victoria. Open to both local and international students, five
scholarships worth a total of $13,000 will be awarded in 2015,
including:

The Excellence Award (1st, 2nd and 3rd place)

The Community Award
The Overseas Students Award

We are pleased to partner with TSF this year to deliver the

awards. Students can apply for the award from 18 May to 24 July.
Applications are assessed and shortlisted candidates interviewed
by a panel made up of academic staff and community leaders,
with winners announced at the award ceremony as part of the
Melbourne International Student Conference.
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7.30 9.30 PM BOARD GAMES NIGHT - NEW

OPTIONAL
Its an opportunity for friendship, self-discovery and learning. Over
games such as Cashflow, Relationality, Settlers of Catan, The
Resistance and The Coup, therell be plenty to draw out of your
play from communication, negotiation and relationships, to strategy,
trade, resource management and financial literacy.

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PROVISIONAL PROGRAM
DAY 2 - Sunday 06 September 2015

9.30 10.30 AM KEYNOTE

TOPIC TBC
Speaker: Jan Owen AM, CEO, Foundation for Young
Australians
Details to come.

10.30 11.00 AM MORNING TEA / NETWORKING

11.00 1.00 PM COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

TOPIC TBC
Facilitator: TBC
The focus in 2014 was about turning ideas in reality, and
helping students realise that many successful organisations
and businesses were started because someone identified a
problem or gap in the community that needed to be filled.
Delegates were joined by young Australians in a handson session to come up with solutions to improve localinternational student engagement, and pitch to a panel to win
support for their teams ideas.

1.00 2.00 PM LUNCH

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2.00 3.00 PM BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION - PART 1

YOUNG UPSTARTS
Watch with bated breath as teams shortlisted from a statewide pool
of entries pitch their business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs and
business leaders real-time. The winner walks away with a $500
cash prize and a mentoring session to help bring that business idea
a step closer to reality.
Judging panel: TBC

3.00 3.30 PM PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

TOPIC TBC
Speaker: (TBC)

3.30 3.45 PM AFTERNOON TEA / NETWORKING

3.45 4.30 PM BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION - PART 2

YOUNG UPSTARTS
Find out who the winners are and why from our panel of judges.

4.30 5.00 PM BREAK

5.00 7.00 PM CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING NIGHT
Melds most popular networking event, the Professional Networking
Night puts students networking skills to the test as they mingle and
connect with mystery guests across a range of industries including
commerce, engineering, health, hospitality, media and the arts.
Mystery guests reveal their identities at the end of the night and
each pick one outstanding networker for a one-on-one meet-up
over lunch.

7.00 7.30 PM CLOSING REMARKS

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SPONSORSHIP
Interested in getting involved in the Melbourne International
Student Conference? Sponsorship and partnership opportunities
are available for service providers to the international student
community, employers, professional associations, government
bodies, peak and community organisations.
Key benefits
Reach a highly targeted audience at the event as well as online
by tapping into Melds more than 37,000 monthly readership
and social channels
Align your organisation/brand to the content and themes of the
conference
Custom sponsorship campaign tailored to your marketing
objectives
Position yourself as a thought leader by delivering engaging
and insightful content to students as well as industry

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Conference Sponsor
Recognition as a main conference sponsor on the Melbourne
International Student Conference website, in marketing
collateral and at the event
High level branding including pull-up banners in key positions,
logo on holding slide, and verbal acknowledgement during the
conference
Opportunity to host a workshop at TAG (if applicable)
Complimentary tickets to the conference and invitation as
special guests to the Professional Networking Night
BONUS month of advertising worth $1000 on Meld Magazines
website and e-newsletter
Cost $2,500

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Young Upstarts Award Sponsor

Naming rights for Young Upstarts
Recognition as award sponsor on conference website and in
marketing collateral
Pull-up banner at the Young Upstarts session
Participation as a judge on the Young Upstarts panel and in
prize presentation to winner
Complimentary tickets to the conference and invitation as
special guests to the Professional Networking Night
Cost $1,200

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Professional Networking Night Sponsor

Naming rights for Professional Networking Night
Recognition as professional networking night sponsor on
conference website and in marketing collateral
Pull-up banner at the Professional Networking Night session
Opportunity to deliver conference closing remarks
Complimentary tickets to the conference and invitation as
special guests to the Professional Networking Night
Cost $1,800

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In-kind Sponsorship
Promotion and publicity opportunities commensurate with value of
in-kind sponsorship including venue, catering, materials and other
conference related costs.

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CONTACT US
For bookings or sponsorship related enquiries,
including customs plans to suit the needs of your
organisation, please do not hesitate to get in touch
with us.

E: karen.poh@meldmagazine.com.au
M: +61 412567052

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