UWA students put their skills to work at TP as CMM's Broadcast Trainer, Mr Pok Chye Heng, gives them valuable pointers on editing.

For the past three years, Communications and Media Management (CMM) first year students in Temasek Polytechnic have been enjoying a pleasure most poly students in Singapore can only dream about - studying in a university in Australia during term time.

Now in its third year, this student exchange tie-up with the University of Western Australia (UWA) occurs annually in February. During this three-week exchange, UWA students get to come to TP to study TV Production whilst CMM students head for UWA in Perth to be instructed in Australian Historical & Anthropological Study.

With CMM's course curriculum keenly modelled after numerous universities both local and foreign, and each subject's content updated every semester by Subject Leaders, UWA students from Australia were able to pick up valuable television production skills which complemented their course work in UWA perfectly. Marli van der Merwe, a UWA Communications Studies undergrad who participated in the exchange last year, affirmed strongly, "I believe the Singapore exchange is a MUST for Perth UWA Communication Studies students if they want to enter either the Video/TV area. UWA just do not have the facilities to accommodate what TP has to offer. Combining the strong academic and critical thinking skills acquired at UWA with the practical experience from TP gives you a unique win-win situation."

	Our CMM students with CMM lecturer, Evelyn Lau, enjoying themselves in Perth during their student exchange programme down under with the University of Western Australia (UWA).

The benefits of this exchange are felt by CMM students as well. Alyssa Ann De Souza, a second year CMM student, found the modules she took in Perth "very enriching". She added, "The experience was indescribable as not only did we have to worry about school, but it involved learning how to live independently. Our excursions to the various spots were hard to come by as we got the chance to watch the stars and snorkel too. It was not only about the classroom at the uni, but (the) outside (world) as well."

Besides enabling them to be more independent, Fera Nuha Lestari Rosihan, a second year CMM student, also found the modules in UWA to be "intense, interactive, enjoyable and informative."

"Their (tutorials) were flexible, relaxing and highly interactive where students get to communicate one on one with their tutors. The discussions were excellent."

Fera was also gratified to have experienced the promise of university life. "I will LOVE university life for sure. I am looking forward to my university life be it locally or overseas. (This experience has) gained me the confidence to take that step further."

Both Alyssa and Fera were glad to have developed a better understanding of Australian culture through their lessons and enjoyed their stint at UWA immensely. Still buzzing at the memory of their wonderful experience, both girls recommend the student exchange programme enthusiastically. Said Alyssa, "If you want to experience living independently, experience uni and experience Australia, this trip has it all packaged in." Fera chimed in with this parting shot, "Experiences like this comes once in a lifetime. Especially when you're given that chance to live the university life while you're still in poly."