New Mayor’s Student Ambassadors to promote the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast has a new team of Mayor’s Student Ambassadors with nine students representing Southern Cross University in a team of 31 international and domestic students.

The students went through a rigorous selection process to be named ambassadors and were inducted in a recent ceremony with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

Their role will be to engage in adventurous activities, attend government, community and industry events and share their experiences with the world through storytelling on social media to promote the Gold Coast as a top study destination.

Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Hospitality Management student Riya Chandra, from India, said Southern Cross University had the largest representation of students from any Gold Coast institution.

“This will definitely help us and equip us with skills for the future, especially in the space of business and marketing,” she said.

“This is all about making connections and promoting the Gold Coast as a study destination.”

Study Gold Coast CEO Shannon Willoughby said this year there were triple the number of student ambassadors, both international and domestic, and the program would have a strong focus on student experience, employability and the Commonwealth Games.

“The program is a collaboration between the City of Gold Coast and Study Gold Coast and is designed to build and strengthen relationships between the Gold Coast community and the student population through cultural and social inclusion,” she said.

Diksha Gidwaney, who was born in Tanzania and grew up in India, is studying a Diploma of Business at Southern Cross University and said she found out about the program through the International student office.

“They said it would be a great opportunity and that we should go ahead and try for it – it has already been an amazing experience at our Orientation and meeting other students,” she said.

“This year they will be offering an internship program through the Mayor’s office we can also apply for, up to 30 days working with the Mayor, which would be an amazing experience to have on a resume.”

Southern Cross University Master of Professional Accounting student Ishita Shah, from India, said the program would enable her to network with the right people at the right time in her degree.

“We will get to explore the Gold Coast while integrating with other people from all across the world,” she said.

“This is the first year they have Australian students as well which is really exciting.

“We will go whale watching, visit Freeman’s organic farm, night markets and have the opportunity to apply for the Marriott internship on offer.”

As part of the program students will enjoy professional development and public speaking opportunities, engage with media, industry, government representatives and international trade delegations, enjoy exclusive local adventures and promote the Gold Coast – ‘Australia's Favourite Classroom’ as the best student city to study, work and visit.

High resolution photos available on request. Photo Caption: 2017 Mayor’s Student Ambassadors from Southern Cross University (Clockwise from Left) Glory Kitesho, Lea Deiss, Ojay Moka, Diksha Gidwaney, Riya Chandra, David Jian Liu, Micael Aidria Baguio, Brook Andreas and Ishita Shah