If you ask someone from outside of Australia what its capital is, the answer will often be ‘Sydney,’ although that’s changing rapidly among the ranks of those seeking quality education.
Canberra’s unique position is exactly what drew international student Amalia Wulandari to study at The Australian National University (ANU).
“Canberra’s appeal as a student-friendly city made it an easy choice. Commute times are short, and access to expansive national parks is easy. With it being the capital, it also has a diverse population with proximity to embassies and governmental departments,” says Amalia.
Granted, it helped that her parents were close by – posted at the Indonesian Embassy. Amalia’s decision to study in Canberra gave her the trifecta: family, location and a world-class education.
“I was attracted by the highly ranked university, as well as the research pedagogy that ANU emphasises. During my Bachelors, I learned about the quality and rigour of the economics courses offered by the ANU Research School of Economics, and it encouraged me to pursue a Master of Economics.”
Though she found some of the courses quite challenging, Amalia complimented her lecturers’ abilities to break difficult concepts down.
“I thoroughly enjoyed Microeconomic Theory (ECON8011) by Associate Professor Idione Meneghel. While it was a difficult course, Idione explained microeconomic theory as an approach to organising economic ideas through modelling in a way that made complex topics approachable and engaging.”
Beyond this, Amalia gained additional skills through tutoring other CBE students.
“My tutoring experience helped me improve my communication skills by teaching me to simplify complex ideas and adapt my explanations to different learning styles. As the tutoring sessions were weekly, it helped me gain confidence in public speaking, which is invaluable in professional settings.”
Now graduating, Amalia has taken the time to reflect and appreciate all that she has achieved and experienced during her studies.
“I loved going for walks around Fellows Oval whenever I was taking study breaks. It helped clear my mind, and I would also bump into the ANU ducks along the way!”
Partly what made her university experience so rewarding was her participation in Careers initiatives offered by the ANU College of Business and Economics (CBE), including the Special Industry Project (SIP) and CBE Internships.
“As an international student, these initiatives helped me gain a better understanding of the Australian workplace and how my studies could be applied in a professional context whilst doing impactful work,” she says.
“My SIP team’s project with the ACT Government addressed a real business need, which was incredibly fulfilling.”
Wrapping up her last moments at ANU, Amalia is grateful for the growth.
“It took me some time to settle on economics, and ANU enabled me to explore different subject areas. I have had the opportunity to learn and grow in this area, which led me to discovering career paths I never once imagined.”
Amalia Wulandari
Amalia graduated from ANU with a Master of Economics. Prior to this she completed a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economic Studies and Finance, also from ANU. During her time at the University, she worked as a tutor for undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the ANU Research School of Economics, as well as a student ambassador at CBE. She participated in the Special Industry Project, collaborating with a team to deliver a project for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government. Additionally, she completed a market-research internship at the ANU Centre for Continuing Education through CBE Internships. She will soon commence work in the energy sector, focusing on the renewable energy transition at Aurecon.
The ANU College of Business and Economics offers an extensive range of specialised programs. Click here for more details.