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What's new
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| Living in Melbourne and Studying at Holmesglen |
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Holmesglen's new survival guide for International students - Living in Melbourne and Studying at Holmesglen is now available to be downloaded. This publication will provide you with valuable information on arriving in Melbourne, adjusting to life in Australia, Holmesglen's services and facilities, the National Code 2007 and useful contacts. The publication can be accessed through Download Forms.
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| National Code 2007 |
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Please refer to link on the Home Page for important information relating to recent changes to ESOS Act and National Code 2007 which became effective 1 July 2007. A number of useful forms are now also available for students to access online. These can be accessed through the Download Forms link.
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| Graduating Forward on Life's Journey |
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The culmination of much study and hard work, across two continents and in two very different languages was celebrated with the graduation ceremony of Holmesglen's Charles Sturt University Degree students. In front of distinguished guests that included Professor C T Heazlewood and Associate Professor John Messing of Charles Sturt University, and Holmesglen Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bruce Mackenzie, students accepted their place in academia's elite as graduates of their respective degrees. Graduates had been involved in programs which saw the collaboration of Holmesglen with Charles Sturt University and esteemed Institutes from overseas to deliver a comprehensive Degree program. These programs equipped students with their Bachelor Degrees in Business Studies, Information Technology or Hotel Management. In addition to congratulating students for their achievement, Professor Heazlewood also shared some poignant thoughts on the future journeys before each and every graduate. Professor Heazlewood encouraged students to revere the knowledge they have gained and use it wisely for the benefit of their global communities. Those in the workforce today will face many choices and challenges, and have a responsibility to use what they have acquired for the better. Cheekily, he momentarily swapped his Academic Bonnet for a Commonwealth Games Volunteer hat, to recount his time of being a volunteer. Professor Heazlewood used this experience to highlight the benefits of helping the community and of the satisfaction he gained from the time given. He encouraged all to remember that contributing positively to society as a whole should be considered at all times on the lifelong journey we all undertake. After the formalities of the ceremony, graduates and their families were encouraged to celebrate with their academic peers at an informal function in the Conference Centre. This afforded an ideal opportunity for all to commemorate the achievement. Holmesglen wishes to congratulate all graduates on their achievement, and wishes them all the best on their undoubtedly successful futures!
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| Women Most Likely. Art Exhibition |
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Showcasing sculptures by three female artists, an inspiring exhibition at the Kingston Arts Centre will feature ceramic and plaster pieces by Holmesglen student, Lesley Walsh. Coming from an extensive background in community health management, Lesley became interested in looking for an alternative career that would allow her to explore her creative side and develop her artistic abilities. Having developed an interest in various artistic pursuits from her engineer father at an early age, Lesley learnt from him aspects of working with wood, metal and stained glass. Now in her third year of a Diploma of Arts (Ceramics), Lesley has exhibited twice before and has entered several competitions, thanks to the wonderful support of the Ceramics staff, who always, Lesley says "...encourage development of skill in order to develop creativity." Developing her artistic ability through sculpture, after an already extensive career, has allowed Lesley to draw from her life experience, giving her more confidence to put her work 'out there' in exhibitions and competitions. Doing so, says Lesley, is a great learning experience and a fantastic way to push your boundaries out of your comfort zone - necessary in order to evolve and grow as an artist. On exhibitions, Lesley says that they allow you to "develop your skill; and the more you develop your skill, the better you can take the ideas in your head and translate them into your work." Entitled "Women Most Likely", the exhibition is a testament to the endless possibilities of three-dimensional artwork; and will run at the Kingston Arts Centre from Thursday, 20 April to Monday, 8 May.
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| Building Degree Students Take To Problem Based Learning |
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Fifteen students in the first intake for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Built Environment) program have been thrown into the deep end with the problem based learning approach used. And they are taking to it like ducks to water! The PBL approach is in stark contrast to the traditional lecture based mode of delivery. Students are challenged at the beginning of their learning process with a learning problem which they are not able to address without new learning. They work collaboratively to analyse the problem, identify learning issues, formulate hypotheses and then actively research the issues and share the knowledge. Critical thinking and evaluation of information are important skills that are brought to bear in this process. Instead of attending formal lectures, students work in tutorial groups covering a wide variety of learning activities. Active participation and ownership of the learning process is a hallmark of the PBL approach. "It's so different to my experience of formal education" said Gerald Adams who had previously completed a Diploma in Business Management and other formal courses in architecture and construction. "It allows you to take ownership of your own learning and identify your own unknowns. You are learning by researching and sharing with others. It is very motivating and satisfying, and builds confidence in your own abilities." Several of the students have come directly from diploma level studies while others are taking up the opportunity to pursue degree level studies with many years of work experience behind them. "Working collaboratively with my colleagues has been advantageous in that all of our backgrounds are different, and we are bringing different expertise and experiences to the table" said Arron McDermott, another of the students. "I have learnt more from my colleagues than I would have from any text." Adrian Kirk, course leader for the BAS(BE), observed, "The students are really engaged and motivated in their studies. They are enjoying their learning experiences while at the same time developing very important lifelong learning skills." Stephen Hallett, one of the tutors who is also active on course accreditation panels for the Australian Institute of Building, compared the BAS(BE) with other courses that he has evaluated, "This method of delivery provides new learning opportunities to the students which challenge their existing perceptions of education. By giving them shared ownership of their learning, and asking them to deal with live problems, they are developing a set of new skills that will serve them through all aspects of their working life."
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| Holmesglen Animation Student Drops into History |
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Twenty-year-old Holmesglen graduate Thomas Marley established a place in history on Wednesday 31 August as one of the first people to create Australian downloadable content for the new Sony PSP (PlayStation®Portable). Thomas was announced winner of both the student category and the grand prize for his animation The Drop, in the Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) Expose competition in Sydney. Expose aimed to unearth the best new Australian content available for the PSP, with entries of screen-based audio-visual works ranging from short videos, flash and audio productions. In a quest to uncover Australia's most creative talent, SCE Aust. short listed 26 finalists from around the country, including 10 from Victoria. Thomas scooped the $6,000 major accolade. The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson congratulated the Victorian finalists saying, "National recognition by a games world leader such as Sony Computer Entertainment is a real coup and a great example of the cutting-edge work being produced by Victoria's games industry." "Thomas' success is testimony to the innovation and hard work being done by our local industry and a particular credit to Holmesglen TAFE." Thomas has been snapped up by leading Melbourne games company Act3 Animation. He created his prize-winning animation as his final year project in the Advanced Diploma of Animation at Waverley Campus last year. Thomas was a participant in the Victorian Government's Digital Media Fund internship program. His animation involves a battalion of raindrops preparing for their next jump to earth. As they mass by the thousands, one timid raindrop must find the courage to make the jump - before he is pushed. Animation Course Coordinator Clint Cure, said he was impressed by Thomas' animation as early as the storyboard stage. He encouraged Thomas to enter Expose. "Our course concentrates on character animation and that is where Thomas excelled with The Drop," Clint said. "It was a year in production - six months in pre-production, creating the story boards and character design, then a further six months in actual production. He kept the characters simple and showed great imagination. I'm really proud that he's turned his High Distinction animation into an Australian award winner." Thomas says he first began to teach himself animation whilst at school. During years 11 and 12, I created two short films, including one called Cheesy Does It, which won a prize in Holmesglen's student animation festival in 2002. After completing VCE, I enrolled in Holmesglen's Advanced Diploma of Animation as it seemed to be the most animation-focused course on offer in Australia. After graduating last year, I was lucky to be awarded a spot in Film Victoria's internship program, working at Act3 Animation." "Winning Sony's PSP competition has been a great experience and has motivated me to start work on another short film."
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| Biotechnology Student Wins International Award |
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Leanne Donald, a Holmesglen dual qualification student in the Diploma of Applied Science (Biotechnology) and Diploma of Laboratory Technology (Pathology Testing), was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the international E-ducation Without Borders (EWB) Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Held from 19-21 February, the conference was organised specifically for students by students. The conference brought together upwards of 500 students from over 70 different nations to discuss how information technology is affecting and changing education. Leanne was selected for participation after a rigorous application process, interview and paper presentation. Leanne s paper, Corporate Training Via E-Learning , addressed business principles, which she can see linking to biotechnology business operations in the future. The opportunity to participate in the conference is greatly appreciated by Leanne, as she has had the opportunity to learn about the different methods of teaching overseas and to meet students from other countries, while promoting the excellent teaching and career opportunities available in the Biotechnology field in Melbourne. Leanne was encouraged to apply for the scholarship by staff in the Biomedical Science Department at Holmesglen, where on-line learning forms part of her training regime. Returning to study for the first time in many years, and having no scientific background, Leanne has found studying at TAFE an invaluable experience. The amount of hands-on training and applied learning I have gained at Holmesglen has made it simpler for me to ease my way back into study. It has also given me a great insight into the biotechnology and pathology testing industries, said Leanne. As part of her course, Leanne undertook a 2-week industry placement with CSIRO within her first year and may consider an international internship before completing her second year studies at Holmesglen. The industry-appropriate facilities at Holmesglen have also provided her with opportunities she may not have available if studying elsewhere. The equipment and training on offer at Holmesglen is very impressive , Leanne says. Holmesglen is one of the few educational institutes in Victoria with real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment and chemidoc systems in molecular biology for student training purposes. Our biotechnology training links into the Australian Stem Cell Centre in second year. Holmesglen Institute has such strong industry, research and development focus that I have so many options when I finish the diplomas. I can articulate, with advanced standing, to degrees in medical science or biotechnology, said Leanne. Leanne, who now lives in Prahran, came to Melbourne because there were not the same training opportunities in biotechnology in Queensland. It is a move she has not regretted with the E-ducation Conference in Abu Dhabi a bonus, after a highly successful academic and practical training year.
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