Study NT ambassador Victoria Vydra gives advice to 2024 program representatives
An international student studying in Darwin has shared how a major ambassador program helped her find her feet. Here is her advice to the incoming cohort.
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An international student studying in Darwin has said an ambassador program helped her find her feet after a bout of “culture shock”.
International House Business College student and Argentina national Victoria Vydra was a Study NT ambassador in 2023.
“It gave me something to do while I was trying to figure out everything else,” Ms Vydra said.
“It was really fun – we did a lot of activities, I met a lot of people.
“It never felt like a chore to me or like a responsibility, it was something fun.”
As the Territory government announces 20 international students taking part in the program for 2024, Ms Vydra said the program had given her a unique perspective of the NT.
“It made me see things differently and also made me really love Darwin,” she said.
“I have been chatting with a few [of the 2024 ambassadors], I’ve been telling them to take advantage of every opportunity, to say yes to everything.
“Sometimes if you’re just a student and go to class and got to work, you don’t get to see other things or experience different opportunities and highlights that Darwin has.”
This year’s ambassadors are from Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, the Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh, Tanzania, China, Italy, and Colombia.
The team will undergo professional development, attend networking events with local businesses and international delegations, and complete volunteering and work experience.
Skills, Training, and International Education Minister Chansey Paech said the international education sector was worth $165 million in 2022.
“We want to boost the number of students to 10,000 in the coming years as the new Charles Darwin University city campus is finalised,” he said.
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