International student of the year 2012 finalist

MEGT Institute Hospitality student Server Ince from Turkey is a finalist in the NSW International Student of the Year 2012 awards. This program recognises outstanding contributions of international students to the community.

MEGT Institute’s Tony Patterson, Campus Manager says, ‘We put up Server for the award in the vocational education and training category because he has been an inspiration to all of us, consistently showing outstanding initiative in his voluntary work.’

Push for environmental sustainability

Server Ince sharpened his environmental skills as a conservation volunteer at Centennial Park. He enthused students at Urbanest (a leading student accommodation provider) where he works, to adopt sustainability improvements.

Sever is part of the founding Sustainability Council at MEGT Institute, Sydney, which has been a driving force behind changes for us to become more ecologically sustainable.

‘I am passionate about protecting nature,’ says Server. ‘We can do lots of even small things that together will create a better and more ecological friendly world for the generations to come.’

With a background in the hotel industry in his home country Turkey, Server Ince is studying for a Diploma of Hospitality at our Sydney Campus.

Contributing to our community

Says Server, ‘My future goals after completing my studies at MEGT Institute are to enter into a Masters Degree in Hospitality Management program. I want to work in top management in this industry as I enjoying working with people. Also, I would love to continue working in environmental projects and contribute to Australia as much as I can whilst improving myself to be a better person.’

The winners of the awards will be announced at the International Student Festival on Sunday 4 March 2012 at Victoria Park, Broadway, Sydney.

2012 International Student Festival this Sunday 4 March

All international students are invited to participate in the International Student Festival being held this Sunday 4 March in Sydney.

The NSW Government is supporting the 2012 NSW International Student of the Year Award and the 2012 International Student Festival, recognising the importance of international students and supporting their experience while in NSW.

Location and time of International Student Festival:

The festival runs from 11am–4pm at Victoria Park, City Road, Broadway, Sydney NSW

The festival provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution that international students make to our community as a whole.

The awards recognise the contribution that students have made to our community through their service beyond the classroom.

International student of the year finalists (including our student Server!)

The member finalists have been announced and congratulations go to:

Server Ince from MEGT Institute in the VET category, for his commitment to environmental and sustainability projects, Lucyta Surjakusuma from Sydney School of Business and Technology in the VET category for her work with the Red Cross organising blood donation events for fellow students, Thant Thitsa (Vicky) Aung from Sydney Institute of Business and Technology in the Higher Education category for her work in organising activites for the SRC to promote student engagement with the community, and Siwen Chen from Carrick Institute in the higher education category for her contribution to the Carrick library, SRC and the Australian Chinese Student Committee.

The award winners will be announced at the festival with Premier Barry O’Farrell presenting the awards. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on the main stage at 12 noon with media and photo opportunities. It is expected Education Minister Piccoli will also be in attendance.

Fun events at the festival

The festival will include a variety of live entertainment on stage, games, activities, information stalls and food and beverages. It is a fun and supportive event aimed at engaging with new and continuing international students, their families and friends as well as domestic students and the education community as a whole.

You are invited to come along, join in the activities and celebrate the contribution of our international students.

Festival program updates visit the International Student Festival Facebook page.

Source: ACPET

MEGT Melbourne people raise funds to buy textbooks for Indonesian children

People from across MEGT came together at our Melbourne City Campus for a sausage sizzle fund raising on a Thursday in early February to buy English language text books for primary school children in Indonesia.

Nicola Gray, Director of Studies of ABILITY English, Melbourne Campus, organised the fund raising. Nicola spent her recent annual holidays as a volunteer English teacher on tropical Gili Trawangan Isle, off Lombok’s shore, where she was concerned to learn that there was only one English language text book per class.

On her return, she approached MEGT CEO David Windridge to enquire about possible fundraising opportunities. David generously offered to match $ for $ all money raised by our people for the English language text books.

Held on a sunny afternoon on the balcony of our Melbourne campus, people came from all across MEGT, including Ability English, MEGT Institute, Workforce Planning, the Australian Apprenticeship Centre, Finance, IT and Facilities. This fundraising was something of a first: a social occasion at which all MEGT people could meet one another and exchange views.

Says Nicola Gray, “It was great both to raise funds for a very necessary educational cause, but also to be able to meet our colleagues to understand better the different departments and what they do.”

With MEGT matching the money raised by the get-together, sufficient funds were raised to provide the much needed 120 books.

Because international tourism is vital to Gili Trawangan’s economy, it is important to its children’s future to speak international languages, especially English. The text books will help ensure the children will, in time, secure worthwhile jobs.

The students and  teachers of Gili Trawangan’s primary school have sent a message thanking Nicola and MEGT for their books.

A Café is born

Stage 1 students currently studying Certificate III Hospitality have taken  on the challenge of setting up, running and serving coffees to the Riley street Campus every Tuesday for the morning break.

During  team brain storming sessions and meetings they came up with the name Piccolo cafe (little cafe). With some prior marketing to classes and  MEGT staff with posters placed about the Institute, the result was a resounding  success with queues out the door and around the corner. The nervous students managed to rally together and survive their first day, serving a total of 68 cups of coffee to students and staff.

Wow what a great effort

The cafe will be an ongoing practical application throughout the semester whereby the students gain practical experience by actively being involved and responsible for the cafe operation.

Here are some of the pictures from the opening day.!!!!!

450 MELBOURNE STUDENTS NEED OUR HELP

MEGT Group Training is working with Selmar Institute to find a solution to help 450 secondary students continue their Australian School-based Apprenticeship with Melbourne host employers.

MEGT is a quality endorsed Group Training Organisation that has been operating since 1982. The organisation works with schools around Australia, employing secondary school students, placing them with host employers in over 33 industries, overseeing the quality of appropriate vocational education and providing pastoral care.

MEGT is now contacting all schools and employers involved with Selmar Institute.