Jump to Content

Media Release

17 August 2006

UniSA showcases a world of higher learning

UniSA Open Day organisers are expecting more than 10,000 people of all ages to attend City West campus this Sunday August 20 for an event that promises to provide real insights into student life in the 21st century.

The annual Open Day is more than just a tour of the campus – it is a chance for whole families to see where higher education may fit into their lives and career development.

Open Day Coordinator Ryan Bailey says the day provides a comprehensive program designed to let everyone from school leavers to career changers to find out more about the study programs and get a feel for uni life as it is today.

“University life has changed a great deal over the years with the introduction of new technologies and the increasing numbers of students attending universities from across the age spectrum and around the world,” Bailey said.

“Open Day allows us to give people a snapshot of UniSA – its new facilities, new and modern approaches to teaching and learning, and its vibrant international flavour.”

More than 70 different lectures will be presented on the day covering the wide range of study options available, and there will be information on how to access opportunities to study overseas as part of your degree, how to enter uni as a mature age student, and information on scholarships.

"The student mix at UniSA is really diverse – we have people from all over the world and from just about every age – between 16 and 60,” Bailey said. So we have designed the day’s program with an intergenerational feel. It’s interactive, family-friendly, entertaining and informative.”

Seminars will run on study options in Business, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, as well as Education, Arts and Social Sciences.

UniSA will also offer live demonstrations and hands-on experiences in a range of areas. Budding pilots can test-drive a virtual aircraft in a flight simulator; there will be a biodiversity and environment stand with live native animals, a health hub with nursing demonstrations and physiotherapy sessions showing how muscles work. There will also be a live animations demonstration showcasing multimedia technologies, and business student ambassadors will be on hand to talk to individuals about their student experience. In the library early childhood education students will be running a special story time for children.

Bailey highly recommends the seminar "First year university: the good, bad and ugly", which he says gives potential students an insight into all the nitty gritty of uni life ─ lectures, tutorials, contact hours and social life.

“As the Open Day is being held right in the middle of South Australian Living Artists (SALA) festival – visitors to the campus will also have a special chance to pop in on two official exhibitions in the art gallery in of the new Kaurna Building,” Bailey said.

“And by entering a couple of competitions on the day visitors are in the running for great prizes ─ a Pentax digital camera and Seiko watch.”

Free entertainment on the day includes one-man-show, Tim Solly and local bands Lowrider, and Straight Two the Ace. Nova 91.9 will be doing regular live crosses ─ and their Casanova’s will be dropping in with plenty of freebies.

UniSA Open Day 2006 - City West campus
North Terrace, Adelaide
Sunday, 20 August 2006
9.30am - 4.00pm
For more information visit: http://www.unisa.edu.au/openday/default.asp

Contacts for interview

Media contact

top^