Links with Spain grow stronger

Southern Cross University has a quietly growing connection with Spain, especially the University of Barcelona, which includes a student exchange.

University of Barcelona students Catalina Ribas, 25, and Lena Lehto, 27, have spent the past six months studying with SCU in Lismore. Next year, five SCU Lismore students will study in Barcelona, up from two this year.

Visiting students Ms Ribas and Ms Lehto lived on campus at Lismore and nominated field trips, tree planting projects and learning to surf as new and different activities.

Ms Ribas, studying in Australia for the second time, is undertaking a PhD on migrants, the migrant experience and migrant literature.

"I am investigating how first-and second-generation migrants, especially Greek and Chinese migrants in Australia, express their feelings, worries and ideas through literature," she said.

Miss Ribas said Cultural Studies resources, in general, were more widely available in Australia.

SCU's Dr Baden Offord, who set up the student exchange with Dr Susan Ballyn in Barcelona, is currently teaching a course to PhD students at University of Barcelona as a Visiting Professor.

Dr Offord said nothing was more important for students undertaking liberal arts studies and research than cultural encounters.

"These SCU and University of Barcelona links have opened up wonderful opportunities for Australian and Spanish students to consider themselves as citizens of the world," Dr Offord said.

As part of the link with Spain, SCU's Dr Baden Offord will jointly organise with Griffith University a conference called Landscapes of Exile on the north coast at Byron Bay in 2006.