Digital Media student Amy inspired by Mongolia study tour
By Greg Chapman
A study trip to Mongolia has unveiled a world of possibilities for soon-to-be CQUniversity Bachelor of Digital Media graduate Amy Low.
Organised by Projects Abroad and funded by the New Colombo Plan, Amy was part of a contingent of students who travelled to the Ulaanbaatar region to gain valuable experience from local media organisations.
“The trip was amazing! I had always wanted to visit Mongolia, so it felt like it was meant to be,” Amy said.
“I undertook my placement with Four Seasons Magazine, the local in-flight magazine which showcases all that Mongolia has to offer. My supervisors were really lovely, and I had a varied role with them doing logo design and animation, which was really interesting.
“We also met with local university students where we separated into groups and collaborated on a design brief.
“Not only did I get to explore Mongolia, but I was also able to spend time with its people in a way that you usually wouldn't when just travelling. I definitely stepped outside my comfort zone with the placement and university workshops, and learned a lot about myself and what I can achieve when I say yes to new opportunities.
"It was also great to be with my fellow students - they were fantastic to do the trip with, as was my lecturer Andrew Couzens, who provided a lot of guidance."
She said the Mongolia trip reinforced her decision to study Digital Media at CQU.
“I always loved multimedia when I was younger and had even started a course at TAFE not long after school which I unfortunately didn't complete,” she said.
“Fast forward 15 years, lots of travel, moving, marriage and two kids, and I was keen to return to study after a long time in a financial career that served me at the time, but I didn't love.
“We were living in Alice Springs for my husband's job and I so needed a course that I could do entirely remotely. After some research, I concluded that CQU's Bachelor of Digital Media was perfect as I could study from anywhere in Australia and it covered a lot of different disciplines which I liked as I wasn't yet sure of what area of design I wanted to get into.
“This placement was actually my last unit and so I should be graduating soon! I have absolutely loved this degree. The learning material has been varied and interesting. It is a really hands-on, project-driven course which is what I was after. I also found the staff so supportive and available, and even though I was studying remotely, there was still plenty of opportunity and encouragement to connect with other students.”
She said she hoped to find employment in the Learning Design or Motion Graphics/Animation space.
“I would highly recommend both this degree and the Mongolia placement to anyone considering it,” she said.
The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.
