Wollongong keen to attract local talent

Wollongong University is making a major bid to attract talented students from its local district.

Wollongong University is making a major bid to attract talented students from its local district, promising generous scholarships and global degrees in commerce and computer science which include study in three overseas countries.

After enrolling 15 students in the program in its initial year in 2018, this year there are 23 new students. All of them have a $30,000 travel scholarship to use over the course of their degree and can spend a semester on each of the University of Wollongong campuses in Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai.

The scheme, known as the Global Leaders Development Program, aims to help the university attract more high-achieving students from the Illawarra region around Wollongong.

“The Illawarra does produce quite a few 95-plus ATAR students. But by and large they have not been coming to this university,” said Wollongong’s deputy vice-chancellor (global strategy) Alex Frino.

It takes advantage of the fact that Wollongong has one of the most extensive overseas campus networks among Australian universities and, in commerce and computer science, the same courses are taught overseas as on the home campus.

Students will spend three semesters, or half of their degree, overseas, with one semester at each overseas venue.

“We have the ability to offer students a global degree,” Professor Frino said.

As part of the program students also get a six-week internship with an employer each year of their degree, academic mentorship, and professional and leadership development.

“For many years the Group of Eight (universities) dominated the talented students’ market but their days are numbered. We’ve entered the fray and we’d love to see those students coming to our university,” Professor Frino said.

Wollongong plans to expand the program to 100 students, meaning that 33 will be accepted each year to do a three-year ­degree.

So far there is no shortage of applicants for the commerce degree, but there is less interest in computer science. “Talented students are not applying in droves to do IT degrees,” he said.