Throw Another Steak on the Barbie

On Monday, we went to the University of Notre Dame – Sydney and listened to the Executive Dean of Arts and Sciences, Gerry Turcotte.  He described the formation of UND-Sydney and spoke about the importance of international students.  University education is considered an export for Australia, because they are providing services to students from other countries.  The international students have to convert their money into Australian dollars and they put that money into the Australian economy.  Sean Lennon, Director of Study Abroad Network, told us that the rising price of the Australian dollar and the immigration and visa policies are challenging this export.  The Reserve Bank Bulletin – June 2008, shows that the export value of education rose from 2.9 in 2000 to 5.9 in 2007.

According to The University of Notre Dame - Australia website, the university was “founded through an Act of the Parliament of Western Australia in December 1989, and now has over 7000 students enrolled on its three campuses in Freemantle, Sydney and Broome” (www.nd.edu.au).  The only other private university, Bond University located along Queensland’s Gold Coast, was opened in May of 1989 (www.bond.edu.au).  “Modelled on the traditions of the world’s most elite educational institutions, the vision for Australia’s first private, not-for-profit university (Bond) was to provide an exclusive educational experience of the highest international standards, under the tutelage of the country’s leading academics.” Both universities receive public funding and are aided by the state and federal governments.  This differs from the private universities in the United States, because those in the United States rely on private donations in order to start up and continue operations.  The difference is most likely due to the lack of educational opportunities in Australia.  Because the United States is an older country than Australia, it has older and more established universities.

In Australia, there is no distinct separation of church and state.  This allows the University of Notre Dame in Sydney to receive governmental aid.  Not only did they receive land from the government in order to build their Sydney campus, but they also received funding in order to keep the university running.  Sean informed us that the Education Abroad Network also receives some money from the government to recruit international students to come to Australian universities.

For Monday’s supper, we ate at a restaurant called Phillip’s Foote.  The whole class enjoyed the historic atmosphere and the surrounding area.  The restaurant had a very rustic feel and we even got to grill our own meal.  There was a case of steaks, which you got to pick from and then grilled your meat on a big open grill out back.  After our steaks were cooked, we then had numerous choices from the salad bar.  My steak and 

the fresh fruit was delicious, and I left there feeling completely satisfied!