Content
American student in research fast lane
For a competitive swimmer who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, there’s no better place to live and study than the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
In fact, David Fleischman loved the experience so much the first time that he’s back at the University of the Sunshine Coast to tutor in marketing as well as do his PhD in business.
The 27-year-old has become so ingrained in the community he’s even living in the same share house at Warana with some Aussie and Kiwi mates – and surfing every chance he gets.
It’s this community engagement of International students that David has started researching on the Coast.
“I believe that students who come from other countries are looking for more in their experience than just within the University grounds,” he said.
“This creates more value for both the students and the local community and it’s not just economic.
“USC does a great job of supporting International students like me and encouraging this kind of regional engagement. That’s why I’m interested in researching it here.”
David had attended the University of Georgia on a swimming scholarship, completed a communications degree and was working in public relations.
But his desire to travel and gain postgraduate qualifications prompted him to research universities across the world.
He chose the University of the Sunshine Coast, enrolled in 2005 and got his Master of International Business last year.
“Its location near surf beaches was a natural draw for me and I liked that it was a smaller university where I could interact more with the staff,” he said. “Plus USC had lots of students from around the world.”
March 2009 figures show American students make up 17.4 percent of USC’s International students, second behind Germans (almost 20 percent). The rest of the Top 5 are Canadians (15.4 percent), French (7 percent) and Norwegians (4.7 percent).
Almost 13 percent of all students on campus are International.
– Julie Gatehouse