Deakin University study tour
45 students from the University and faculty members recently visited India on a study tour to experience India first hand

By Kannaki Deka
New Delhi, December 18: What better way to come together on a warm winter afternoon for two cricket loving nations, but a cricket match.  Students from the Business and Law department of Deakin Univeristy, Australia recently visited India on a study tour to experience this country first hand. A cricket match organised between the students of Ansal Institute of Technology, Gurgaon and Deakin University gave students of both institutions an opportunity to interact at an informal level. Besides cricket matches, debate sessions were also organised with the students of Ansal Institute of Technology and IILM in Delhi and KC College and Xavier's college in Mumbai.  

Laura O’Rourke, a law student from Deakin University came down to India “to see a bit of the world” and to experience Indian culture. Before coming to Delhi she worked in the Mumbai High Court for a few weeks. Speaking about her experience in Mumbai she says, “The legal system is similar between India and Australia since it is derived from the British law. It was a great learning experience working under a judge. Besides learning about India and its culture it also gave me an opportunity to promote Deakin University”.  

Although the legal system is quite similar the way universities function in both India and Australia are quite different. “I had an opportunity to visit colleges in Mumbai. In Australia we do not have a fixed class system. We have twenty hours of studies that is scattered over the week, no fixed time-tables unlike colleges in India. I feel we have a lot more choices and we get to choose when the classes are being held”, adds Laura.   

Katherine Beames, also a law student of Deakin University was impressed by the hospitality and warmth displayed by everyone, despite the flak that Australia has received recently in the Indian media concerning the cases of alleged racial abuse faced by Indian students in Australia. Drawing attention to the multi-cultural nature of the group representing Deakin in India, Katherine states, “Australia is very multi-cultural. The attacks on the Indian students were isolated incidents. I feel everyone is safe there and there has never been a history of racial attacks before”. Katherine claims she has fallen in love with Mumbai and is planning to come back to India after completing her course to work for an NGO in Mumbai.  

Dr Jane Menzies, Lecturer of International Business who accompanied the students elaborated on the purpose of such a study tour, “The purpose of the tour is to provide students with insights into the business, political and cultural diversity of this dynamic country. We also had an opportunity to observe the education system in India which is quite different from ours. The teaching style in our University is more interactive with in-depth assignments rather than just lecture based.” During the two weeks they visited Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, the renowned 'pink city'.