1. VUI (Victoria University International)
Monday , 7 November 2005, signified the commencement of a new era at Victoria University - with the first day of operation of VUI (Victoria University International) formerly known as the International Branch.

Victoria University International is dedicated to improving all aspects of operations both on the domestic and international front. Victoria Abroad is looking forward to new challenges, and to maintaining, improving, and developing, our exchange and Study Abroad relationships both internationally and locally.

Victoria Abroad is a section of the Marketing and Recruitment team of Victoria University International at Victoria University.

Please find updated information sheets below:

Contact Information
About Victoria University

2.Farewell Function Report
This night was a huge success! Thank you to those who came along and participated in our end of year function (Karaoke Night). Our VU outgoing exchange students (semester 1, 2006) were also able to catch up with students from their host university. It was fantastic to watch everyone getting together - thank you to those who took time to exchange information with our outgoing students.

Due to some technical problems the Karaoke was slow in starting up, however once the music began it never stopped! The music kept playing all night!

The stand out karaoke performance of the night was Alessandro (University of Udine - Italy) and Deniz (Bogazici University - Turkey) singing "Barbie Girl" (with Alessandro singing as Barbie and Deniz as Ken). This act was very funny and was voted by the Victoria Abroad team the best performance of the night.

The students from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, celebrated Jon's Birthday by singing Happy Birthday on stage and dragging Shazza (hmm) up on stage to sing with them.

We really enjoyed everyone's performance. You were all great.......thanks for your participation!

Thanks to the Greenroom and their staff who helped make the evening a success, our DJ for the evening and Wiremu the chef who prepared and served fantastic nibbles and finger food.

Below are some snapshots of the evening:

Networking! Volkan, Hulya, and Deniz.
Volkan and Deniz are from Bogazici University in Turkey.
Hulya is a Victoria University student who will be studying
at Bogazici University on exchange during semester 1, 2006.

More networking -
Jon (University of Western Ontario - Canada),
Mirvani (State University of New York - New Paltz), with
our VU outgoing exchange students
Shannon (Indiana University - USA),
and the VU contingent to the University of Western Ontario - Canada, Carma, Sam, Tim, Patrick and Michael.

And yet more networking!
Students from the German Sport University (Carolin & Silke)
with VU exchange students going to the
German Sport University, semester 1, 2006
(Tara Robinson & Elisabeth Haynes).

Alessandro (University of Udine - Italy) and
Nicolas (University of Troyes - France) with the girls
from Bremen University (Germany) Samira, Anna,
Annette, and FH Joanneum (Austria), Christina.

The boys from Mexico! Edgar (Universidad de Monterrey),
Rodrigo (Universidad de la Americas) and friend.

Team Sweden! Marcus and Markus
(Jonkoping School of Engineering).

The Birthday boy! Jon and Holly
(University of Western Ontario - Canada)

Alessandro and the gals from Victoria Abroad
(Margaret & Sharon).

A choir of united nations:
South America, Italy, France, USA, Turkey & Germany .
"A joy to watch".

3. 2006 Australian Exchange Fair
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR EXCHANGE PARTNERS
The general dates for the Australian Exchange Fair Circuit are: March 20th - April 7th.

The proposed dates for states and territories are:
Week 1 - March 20-24 - Queensland, ACT and New South Wales
Week 2 - March 27-31 - Western Australia and South Australia
Week 3 - April 3-7 - Victoria and Tasmania

Victoria University's Exchange Fair day is Thursday 6 April. Please note this date in your diary - we would enjoy having you with us on this day to help us promote your university as an overseas exchange destination for our students. The exchange fair also provides a great opportunity to view Victoria University from a student's perspective and to meet and talk to many of our students. A visit to Victoria University will assist you when advising students on exchange destination choices. More information will be forwarded to you soon.

We will be calling on incoming semester 1, 2006 exchange and Study Abroad students, and VU returning exchange students, to participate in the VU fair. We were very well supported by students at the 2005 VU fair and we expect the 2006 Exchange Fair to be even more successful. Please inform your students of this event before they depart for Melbourne to get them thinking about what promotional materials they could bring with them to promote their home university and country etc.

A website is in the process of being developed which will inform you of all individual fair dates for each Australian university participating. This will be listed once each university's date has been confirmed.

Victoria University will once again be hosting the very successfully Victorian Exchange Circuit "Cocktail Party". All participating Victorian universities will be represented along with participating overseas partners' representatives.

2005 VU Exchange Fair Day

4. Other Information
Congratulations to Margaret Jackson (Senior Internatinal Officer - Victoria Abroad) who recently graduated from Victoria University having been awarded the MBA. Margaret finished the last two subjects of her MBA this year as an VU exchange student in Riems School of Management, France).

Well done Margaret!

5. What's Happening in Melbourne?
Before you leave Melbourne go and see, or participate in, some of the activities around for the month of November:

Myer Christmas Windows - Launch

11 Nov 2005
Bourke St Mall
This event operates Friday from 7pm to 8.30pm.
Don't miss the greatest Christmas attraction, the magical Myer Christmas Windows. This is the 50th anniversary of the Myer Christmas Windows.
For more information go to: www.myer.com.au

The 2005 Olympic Dream Run/Walk

13 November 2005
Birrarung Marr
Batman Avenue
Melbourne
This event operates Sunday 13 November from 8.40am.
The Olympics brings together men, women and children who enjoy being active and want to support the Australian Olympic Team. The money raised from the event this year will go toward our Olympic Team to compete in Beijing in 2008. This year's event; a certified 10km or 6.5km walk or run sees many of our Olympians (past and present) participating. Amongst those competing are Olympic Gold medallist Nick Green (rowing) and Lauren Burns (taekwando) plus many more! www.olympicdream.com.au

2005 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships

21 Nov 2005 - 27 Nov 2005
Rod Laver Arena
Batman Avenue Street
Melbourne
This event operates Sunday from 2pm to 5pm Monday from 7:30pm to 9pm Tuesday from 9am to 10pm Wednesday from 9am to 10pm Thursday from 7pm to 9pm Friday from 7pm to 9pm Saturday from 2pm to 5pm
The stars of the world gymnastics will descend on Melbourne for the 2005 World Gymnastics Championships. World and Olympic Champions from the USA, China, Romania and Olympic Champions Russia will be among the 400 athletes from 40 countries who will become the World's best men's and women's all around champion along with individual world titles on apparatus such as the floor, vault, rings and high bar.
For bookings, call Ticketek on 132849. For more information visit: www.gymnastics.com.au/2005worlds/

Pacific School Games
27 Nov 2005 - 4 Dec 2005
Various - Olympic Park, MSPAC
In 2005 Victoria will host the seventh Pacific School Games, one of the biggest 'student games' in the world. The Games will feature more than 500 team officials and 3500 primary and secondary students from across Australia and 30 Pacific rim countries. The Australian public will be treated to a showcase of promising talents across the sports of basketball, diving, swimming and track & field for both able bodies and students with a disability. For session times and locations please visit the website. For bookings, call Ticketek on 132 849. For more information visit: www.pacificschoolgames.edu.au

Didgeridoo Master and Elder Djalu Gurruwiwi

8 Nov 2005 - 23 Nov 2005
Various venues in Melbourne
Living national treasure and Arnhem Land's latest international cult figure, Djalu Gurruwiwi, will deliver a series of mesmerising workshops and performances in Melbourne. Powerful traditional dances and songs of the Galpu clan will be shown in Melbourne for the first time. Workshops in yidaki (didgeridoo) playing and making will also be held.
Phone: 0402 147 110
Email:  info@ididj.com.au
Web:  www.ididj.com.au/calendar/events/djalu_melb05.html

6. Newsletter Competition
There isn't a winner for the last Newsletter Competition!

Several people forwarded answers to the question, however none of them were the correct answer.

The question was: Who played for both England and France on the same afternoon at Wembley Stadium?

The answer is: The band.

6. Farewell from the Victoria Abroad Team
Once again the semester has passed very quickly. It doesn't seem that long ago when we were all meeting at the Welcome Ceremony on level 13 Flinders Street campus.

Many of you will be currently sitting exams, and we wish you all the very best and hope that your are happy with your end results.

It has been a pleasure to have you studying with us at Victoria University and we wish you all the very best in your future endeavors. We are sure all of you have a very bright future in store for you.

Don't forget to send us an email from time to time to let us know how you are going. We hope that you will look out for Victoria University exchange students who are going to study at your home university. It would be great if you could help them settle in to their new environment, and the added bonus is that you will be able to hear our Aussie accents and find out what has been happening in Melbourne.

And finally......with Christmas just around the corner now, we wish you all a very happy holiday period.