Student Highlights
From international student to international marketing intern

International student Katrina has been studying at The University of Newcastle for the past two years. Embarking on a Bachelor of Business and majoring in Tourism Management, Katrina was eager to broaden her horizons and immerse herself in a totally different culture.

“Culture is such an important component of tourism. I really loved learning more about this country and getting to know different cultures in Australia, particularly the Aboriginal culture,” Katrina said.

As part of her studies, Katrina undertook a placement with the University’s Marketing and Communications department. Here, she worked with the International Marketing team, learning about different marketing initiatives and developing her analytical skills by monitoring the performance of various campaigns.

“I had to collaborate with my team members, plus those from other teams, as well as communicate with internal stakeholders. This really helped me to improve my communication and interpersonal skills.”

Keen to be involved in as many projects as possible, Katrina leant her skills to the wider marketing department, assisting with the WeChat Rebuild project, participating in photoshoots, and recording a voiceover for a video aimed at prospective Chinese students.

“These placement opportunities offer international students a chance to adapt to Australian culture in the workplace and help to build one’s professional profile.”

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Katrina had to transition to completing her internship from home. While she found it difficult adjusting to a new working environment at first, she overcame this hurdle by communicating regularly with her supervisor via WeChat and Zoom. They held daily virtual meetings and Katrina made sure she had a list of tasks to complete at the beginning of each day.

“It was a great internship. My team members were very kind and made my experience an unforgettable one.”

For Katrina, this internship offered her the chance to gain real-world experience, which she hopes will assist her when applying for jobs in the tourism industry. With her newfound confidence, Katrina plans on completing her Masters degree in Queensland, where she can study close to one of Australia’s largest tourism sectors.

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Katrina

International student Katrina has been studying at The University of Newcastle for the past two years and undertook a placement with the University’s Marketing and Communications department.

These placement opportunities offer international students a chance to adapt to Australian culture in the workplace and help to build one’s professional profile.