2013

Semester 1: Our Journey thus far

International Students Department ISD 5/8/2013

Table of Contents
Presidents Address................................................................................................................................. 2 The ISD Committee 2013 ........................................................................................................................ 3 The Executive Team ............................................................................................................................ 3 Advocacy and Welfare Department Liaison Department Publications Department ..................................................... 3

Events Department...................................................................................... 3

Our Journey in Semester 1 ...................................................................................................................... 4 Policy Wing and Advocacy in Semester 1 ............................................................................................... 5 Committees ISD sits on ....................................................................................................................... 5 ISD Policy Agenda for 2013 ................................................................................................................. 5 Outreach Wing Social Events and Outreach ........................................................................................ 6 Fortnightly Networking Sessions (Week 4, 6 and 8) ........................................................................... 6 Weekly Drop in Sessions ..................................................................................................................... 6 International Students Welcome Evening (ISWE) Week 2............................................................... 6 ISD Games Day (Week 4) .................................................................................................................... 7 ISD Harlem Shake (Week 6) ................................................................................................................ 7 ISD Collective Campaign Day What is ANUSA? Week (Week 9) .................................................. 7 How does the ISD Function? ................................................................................................................... 8 ISDs New Organisational Structure .................................................................................................... 8 The Executive Committee ................................................................................................................... 8 Policy Wing.......................................................................................................................................... 8 Outreach Wing .................................................................................................................................... 9 The Departments of ISD ...................................................................................................................... 9 ISDs Constitutional Function .................................................................................................................. 9 The ISD Presidents Constitutional Role................................................................................................ 10 Election of the ISD President ............................................................................................................ 10 Election of the ISD Executive Committee ............................................................................................. 10 Conclusion Looking Ahead ................................................................................................................. 11

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Presidents Address
Hey Everyone! I hope this Semester has been an amazing Semester for all of you. I hope that you are constantly out there grabbing the amazing opportunities that ANU has to offer. The International Students Department (ISD) set out this year with a single objective in mind the objective to reestablish the ISD as a body that engages with all international students and represents their interests at all levels of the University. On this objective, I can confidently say that we are well on our way to accomplishing that. The ISD has been restructured to better serve this broad function. More specifically, the ISD now has two main wings the Policy Wing and the Outreach Wing. The Policy Wing is geared towards preparing policies and position papers that target key issues which we deem relevant, if not pertinent, to ISD and the Universitys interest. The Policy Wing also keeps abreast of all policy matters that the ANU churns out and implements, to ensure that International Students interests are not compromised by any of them. The Outreach Wing is geared towards engaging and reaching out to students both international and domestic. This wing is in-charge of organising social events and outreach campaigns to meet the ISDs wider constitutional objective. In this Semester, the ISD can be said to have successfully re-engaged with the University. We now sit in many key policy making committees of the ANU and have hosted many social events with the objective of serving the international students. This brief is intended to give a broad overview of the progress ISD has accomplished this Semester and this hopefully arouses some interest which encourages greater involvement. All the best for the remainder of this Semester!

Your President,

Muhammad Taufiq bin Suraidi

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The ISD Committee 2013

The Executive Team
President Muhammad Taufiq bin Suraidi Executive Vice President Thiang Hui Min Treasurer Pang-Ee Teh Secretary Selselia Veronika Vice-Presidents Ahmed Hamdan (Advocacy and Welfare) Bharat Nichani (Publications) Satomi Sword (Liaison) Leelanuch Bee Haputpong (Events)

Advocacy and Welfare Department

Kamilya Nelson Daw Win Prue Zyna Didi Huan Zheng Amy Zhang

Publications Department
Yuwei Chen Marian Lau Ernest Leung (Leave of Absence)

Liaison Department
Mavis Yip Kelly Wai Lee Cheah Aslam Abd Jalil

Events Department
Ciman Ismail Shaneel Parikh Nitipong New Boonyaleepun

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Our Journey in Semester 1

The ISD have set out this year with the promise of Reconnecting with our fellow international students, refreshing our image, and reviving our functions. In this Semester alone, the ISDs working relationship and reputation with the different bodies of ANU has never been better. We have worked on many projects with ANUSA, cooperated with PARSA, entered into meetings, discussed and worked on projects with the Universitys Administration.

ISD Games Day

The ISD now has a place in many committees that plan and discuss policies in ANU. Through these forums, we hope to represent the International Students interests at the highest levels to ensure that our time here is the most fulfilling. Through these forums, the ISD is pushing agendas ranging from safety on campus, enhancing engagement and participation, all the way through to Sports and Recreation. So on this end, the ISD has been engaging more actively with the University and other organisation in ANU thus reconnecting with the University. As for Outreach, the ISD has also carried out many activities to reconnect with our students. We started off this year with a welcome evening that brought together 500 international students under one roof. We then moved ahead with the ISD Games Day and beginning in Week 4, we have hosted 3 fortnightly networking sessions which brings students, university staff and other key officers of the University together to network and inform one another. The ISD has also scheduled three drop-in sessions every week since Week 3 to ensure that anyone with concerns or things to talk to us about can access us readily. Then of course we have other fun events like the ISD Harlem Shake which had us all going crazy for a little bit. We were awed with the special appearance made by Abraham Lincoln, and would like to thank all participants for the serious head-banging that went on. ISD Networking Session It is thus safe to say that the ISD is moving steadily towards recreating a positive image for ISD, as one that is geared towards engagement and proper representation. Page 4 of 12

Policy Wing and Advocacy in Semester 1

This Semester alone, the ISDs working relationship and reputation with the different bodies of ANU has never been better. We have worked on many projects with ANUSA, cooperated with PARSA, entered into meetings, discussed and worked on projects with the Universitys Administration. The ISD now has a place in many committees which plans and discusses policies in ANU. Through these forums, we hope to represent the International Students interests at the highest levels to ensure that our time here is the most fulfilling. Through these forums, the ISD is pushing agendas ranging from safety on campus, enhancing engagement and participation, all the way through to Sports and Recreation. ISD also hopes to be an active contributor to ANUs policy making bodies such that together, we can ensure that ANU remains every international students top choice when studying abroad.

Committees ISD sits on

The committees which ISD sits on are as follows: 1. Student Experience Committee (SEC) chaired by PVC (Student Experience); 2. University Safety on Campus Committee chaired by Director of Residential and Campus Community; 3. ANUSA Mental Health Committee 4. ANUSA Education Committee 5. Interhall International Students Representative Network an initiative by ANUSA 6. Division of Student Services and Student Administration a. SIS Implementation Working Group b. SET Implementation Working Group

ISD Policy Agenda for 2013

The ISD seeks to implement the following policies or at least get it off its feet by end of this year: 1. University Safety on Campus - more lights on campus and safer routes for students moving around campus late at night; 2. CBE Students and Unilodge Residents student experience focus group 3. Establishing the ISD Human Rights Committee 4. A more holistic experience in ANU the role of sports and recreation in enhancing student experience 5. Reviewing the International Students Barometer survey in discussion with Planning and Statistical Services 6. Recognition for National Clubs and Society for their contribution to International Students Experience 7. Student Integration Program (SIP) a soft landing for International Students The ISD policy papers and positions on these agenda can be found on our website (http://isdanu.blogspot.com.au/)! Do have a read and share with us your thoughts or express your interest to get involved!

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Outreach Wing Social Events and Outreach

Fortnightly Networking Sessions (Week 4, 6 and 8)
The networking sessions this semester bring students and key University officers together to network with one another. Through our networking sessions, we hope to empower students with access to key University officers whose insights may be hugely beneficial to them in the pursuit of their degree. These fortnightly sessions have thus aimed to facilitate fruitful interaction. We also facilitate for staff and key officers to interact with student. The ISD hosted 3 networking session this Semester (Week 4, Week 6 and Week 8). The first one is themed around essential services to students and we had the International Students Services, ANUSA President and the ISD introducing ourselves to the students. The second one was themed around stress and academic issues and we had Counsellors from ANU Counselling and the Director of ASLC, networking with the students. In our last session, we had representatives from the ACT Tenants Union who spoke more broadly about accommodation issues. We also had the Head of the ANU Womens Department networking with the students.

Weekly Drop in Sessions

Every week, ISD officers are positioned at the ANUSA Boardroom such that any students with concerns and/or thoughts will be able to reach us more easily. The times for this semester are as follows: 1. Monday (3pm to 4pm); 2. Tuesday (12pm to 1pm); and 3. Friday (12pm to 1pm)

International Students Welcome Evening (ISWE) Week 2

We opened Semester 1 with the International Students Welcome Evening which saw us catering delicious food and free champagne for all 500 students who attended. This event was hosted with the hope of bringing new international students, senior international students and the national clubs and together in a room to celebrate the beginning of the exciting Semester. We also had Head of Halls, the Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor (Student Experience) Dr Paul Compston, Professor Richard Baker and other University Staff at this evening. It was a beautiful evening to launch off an amazing semester for all international students. Page 6 of 12

ISD Games Day (Week 4)

The ISD Games Day was the brainchild of our committee, in an effort to bring together students of all nationalities in the name of fun . We had 12 teams of 5-7 students participating in the event, with fun activities like the potato sack race, egg on spoon, pass the orange, junk in the trunk and find the snake. We put on a free BBQ, accompanied by amazing prizes to be won!

Happy Fenner Hall Team in four legged race Egg on spoon!!

ISD Harlem Shake (Week 6)

The ISD hosted the ISD Harlem Shake Party to close off Term 1 of Semester 1. Nothing brings people together better than crazy music, ridiculous internet memes, and the opportunity to let your hair down with your fellow friends! That evening was intense, with a special appearance from Abraham Lincoln and some crazy head banging going on!

ISD Collective Campaign Day What is ANUSA? Week (Week 9)

The ISD participated in the What is ANUSA? Week in Week 9 to raise awareness to the wider ANU Community on what ISD does. We had a free BBQ set up in Union Court, a palm print banner for students to have their palm print captured on the ISD Banner. We also handed out information packages which included a brief memo describing ISD and how we work, as well as a list of contact details of the national clubs and societies here at ANU. Much to our delight, we had some keen students approach us, expressing interest in what we do. That said, we are keen for more students who are interested to join us!

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How does the ISD Function?

ISDs New Organisational Structure
The ISD has undergone some restructuring over the course of the semester to enable the department to function optimally to better serve the interests and needs of the International Students.

Executive Committee Policy Wing Advocacy and Welfare Outreach Wing Events Liaison

Publications

The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of ISD is tasked with the responsibility of executing and administering the policies of the ISD Board. The Executive Committee comprises of: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The President; The Executive Vice-President; The Treasurer; The Secretary; The Heads of Department a. Vice President (Advocacy and Welfare) b. Vice President (Events) c. Vice President (Publications) d. Vice President (Liaison)

Policy Wing
The Policy Wing is in-charge of brainstorming policy agendas in the interest of international students. The team is also in-charge of preparing position and policy papers on issues which affects international students. The ISD President is the team-leader for this Wing, thus reflecting the centrality of this body to the ISD Presidents constitutional role.

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Outreach Wing
The Outreach Wing is in-charge of brainstorming strategies that will enhance ISDs engagement and outreach to the students in ANU. This Wing ensures that every social event and media publication campaign that ISD engages in is coherent with ISDs overarching goals and objectives. The ISD VicePresident is the team-leader for this Wing, thus reflecting its importance in ISDs constitutional function.

The Departments of ISD

The Advocacy and Welfare Department This Department is tasked to put in place the necessary infrastructure to engage students and learn about their interests and welfare concerns. The Events Department This Department is tasked to host necessary events for greater engagement with ISDs core constituency. The Publications Department This Department is tasked to manage and enhance ISDs public image. The Liaison Department This Department is tasked to actively engage with student-run organisations, Halls and other necessary bodies to increase ISDs profile and engagement with them to further International Students interest and ISDs goals.

ISDs Constitutional Function

Under Section 4 of the ISD Constitution, the International Students Department is set up with the following function: 4. Purpose

ISD is a peak representative body and a non-profit Organization that aims to: a) To reach out to all International Students to effectively represent and protect the interest and welfare of international student; b) To be the advocacy body for all international students on international students concerns and affairs; c) To inform all international students of the opportunities in the ANU (social, educational, leadership, etc) in order that international students know what is available so that they can get the best experience possible in ANU; d) To foster friendship among international students and domestic students; and e) To give International Students a sense of solidarity. Page 9 of 12

These five purposes of the ISD stated in the Constitution is the foundation of all of ISDs decisions. The Organisational Structure put in place this year is directed to enable the ISD to carry out its Constitutional Role.

The ISD Presidents Constitutional Role

Another peculiar aspect of the ISD Constitution is the position of the ISD President. The ISD President is governed by two constitutions 1. The ANUSA Constitution in his capacity as ANUSA International Officer; and 2. The ISD Constitution in his capacity as ISD President. The ANUSA Constitution takes precedence over the ISD Constitution and so wherever the ISD Presidents Constitutional role conflicts with the constitution of ANUSA, the constitution of ANUSA will prevails.

Election of the ISD President

The President of the ISD is also the ANUSA International Officer. As such, the Election of the ISD President will be done in conjunction with ANUSA Election. However, the in-house election rule applies. The candidate to run for the position must first win an election at an ISD AGM for the nomination. Upon doing so, the winning nomination will then be allowed to run for the ANUSA International Officer position either independently or with the tickets they so wish to join. The ANUSA International Officer and therefore the ISD President must always be an international student. It is important to note that the in-house election rule is not constitutionally entrenched but failure to garner the support of the international students may cause a huge dispute or backlash from the wider ANU-International Students community.

Election of the ISD Executive Committee

Only the ISD Executive Committee will be open for election starting in 2013 onwards. The ISD Election will be held one to two weeks after the ANUSA Election is completed and the winners announced. The ISD Election is a university-wide election, in which all International Students are allowed to vote. However, from 2013 onward, post-graduates will be allowed to vote for the ISD Executive Committee as well. It is also important to bear in mind that 75% of the Executive Committee must be International Students. Lastly, as the position of the ISD President goes to the poll along with ANUSAs election, the positions left for nomination and elections are the ISD Executive Vice-President onwards, meaning: 1. The Executive Vice-President; 2. The Treasurer; Page 10 of 12

3. The Secretary; 4. The Heads of Department.

Conclusion Looking Ahead

The ISD has accomplished much in the first semester but there remains much to be done. The ISD will continue to work hard to engage international students, facilitate for integration between domestic and international students and advocate for international students at all levels of the University. The ISD is currently in the process of planning our Semester 2 Outreach and Policy strategy and if you happen to have any ideas or want to get involved, please contact us at connect.isd@gmail.com.

We are proud to serve you!

We can be contacted by: Email: connect.isd@gmail.com Or you can contact the President at: Email: sa.international@anu.edu.au

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