COVID-19 restrictions have driven the interest of Australians and New Zealanders to undertake higher education study.
With people working from home or out of work as a result of the pandemic, many are looking at further study to continue
their learning, further develop their career or transition to a new (potentially less vulnerable) sector.
The first-ever virtual higher education expo showcasing post-graduate and undergraduate study options for domestic and
international students will be held on Tuesday (14 July), featuring 48 higher education institutions and industry
partners from across the Tasman.
The expo hall at the event will include virtual tours, webcasts, seminars, live presentations, Q sessions, online chats with academics and on-demand content from all exhibitors, which can be accessed from the comfort
of home.
The initiative, driven by Torrens University Australia, is a significant collaboration by Australian and New Zealand
higher education institutions and other organisations in order to address one of many challenges currently facing
prospective higher education students.
Prior to COVID-19 triggered restrictions, post-graduates and undergraduates attended university open days or on-campus
events to consolidate their interest in a particular institution. This innovative expo will provide the same access to
information, contact with academic leaders and university tours all in a virtual environment.
The expo’s platform will hold up to 3,000 concurrent attendees with more than 20 special live presentations for
attendees to enjoy.
Torrens University has seen a strong growth in enrolments, particularly in post-graduate business programs since June,
with applications for postgraduate programs increasing by more than 170% in some courses. High demand programs include
sectors that have become increasingly relevant during the pandemic, including Public Health, Counselling, Software
Engineering and Project Management.
Torrens University Australia Vice President of Public Affairs Bryce Ives said the virtual expo demonstrates the capacity
for the higher education sectors in Australia and New Zealand to adapt, innovate and collaborate.
“This post-graduate and undergraduate expo follows the extremely successful virtual expos we hosted for school leavers in May and June, with 14,000 attendees in Australia and a further 5,000 in New Zealand. So
we know the demand for this offering is strong,” Bryce Ives said.
“Given the similar challenges Australia and New Zealand have right now, for example with physical access to campuses and
access for international students due to border restrictions, it made sense for institutions in the two countries to
collaborate on hosting this online event.”
“Importantly, given the current COVID-19 climate, we will showcase our capability as a university which provides fully
online learning, as will many of the other exhibitors.”
Vice-Chancellor of Torrens University, Professor Alwyn Louw, said the expo will offer a unique and quality experience
for attendees.
“Prospective post-graduate students come to us with the expectation of access to and interaction with academic staff.
They already have some level of understanding of graduate courses and career outcomes,” Professor Louw said.
“This expo requires the exhibitors to provide a higher level of expertise, in the provision of quality information and
spokespeople, which is why the attendees will engage directly with academics to discuss their options and ask questions.
These are the people who could be teaching them in the near future.”
The expo is expected to attract thousands of prospective post-graduate and undergraduate students from across Australia
and New Zealand, as well as international students and student agents.
“We are pleased to provide this opportunity to enable post-graduates and undergraduates to explore the next step in
their journeys just as we continue to offer free On-Demand Short Courses to the public till the end of the year,” Bryce
Ives said.
“Since April more than 10,000 of these free courses have been completed.”
For information and to register, go to www.torrens.edu.au. Once attendees register, they will receive email instructions on how to attend.Sample list of Australian exhibitors
Torrens University Australia
Monash University
Deakin University
RMIT
Swinburne University
University of Tasmania
University of Sydney
Macquarie University
Victoria University
Federation University
Charles Darwin University
Kaplan Business School
University of Western Sydney
University of Wollongong
Southern Cross University
Charles Sturt University
University of New England Australian Catholic University
Murdoch University
University of Canberra
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
University of Queensland
Griffith University
University of Southern Queensland
University of Adelaide
Flinders University
James Cook University
Central Queensland University
University of Notre Dame
Bond University
Edith Cowan University
Curtin University
DXC Technology
International School of Management Sydney (ICMS)New Zealand exhibitors
Media Design School
University of Auckland
AUT
University of Waikato
University of Canterbury
Lincoln University
Victoria University of Wellington