From Townsville to Mongolia: CQU student broadens horizons
Third-year CQUniversity Bachelor of Digital Media student Kayla Johnson has taken her learning beyond the classroom through a month-long professional placement with two organisations in Mongolia.
The Townsville-based student travelled to East Asia through a Special Studies program undertaken as part of her degree, which enabled her to apply her university learning within international workplaces while developing practical, intercultural and professional capabilities.
“There were so many amazing things I got to experience,” Kayla said.
“The highlight of my trip was visiting a nomad family in the country, learning about their way of life and sharing a meal with them in their ger. I feel extremely lucky to have experienced that day,” she explained.
Upon her return to North Queensland, Kayla said she brought back more knowledge about the digital media industry and an increased confidence in her skills.
“Having the opportunity to work in a real workplace environment and learn from colleagues who have been working in the industry for a while really helped me feel more prepared for finding work after graduation.”
During the placement, Kayla worked as a graphic brand developer with iCity Film Studio, contributing to real design and branding projects within a professional creative environment.
Her contribution was highly regarded by Director of iCity Film Studio Udval Dagva - who praised Kayla’s professionalism and described the quality of her work as meeting industry standards.
Kayla also worked with the Four Seasons brand on alternate days, where she produced a promotional video for the company.
Working across the two organisations required her to adapt to different workplace environments and apply her skills in graphic branding, visual communication, video production and professional collaboration.
The placement was supported through CQUGlobal and provided Kayla with an authentic learning experience that extended and enriched her knowledge beyond what could be learned in the classroom.
Rather than completing a simulated assessment task, she worked with real organisations, responded to genuine needs and produced creative outcomes for professional use.
CQUniversity Digital Media lecturer and program supervisor Regina John Luan said Kayla’s achievements demonstrated the value of embedding authentic industry experience within university learning.
“Kayla was working with real organisations, responding to their expectations and producing creative work for genuine professional purposes,” Ms Luan said.
“The positive feedback from Ms Udval Dagna reflects not only the quality of Kayla’s work, but also her professionalism, adaptability and ability to apply her Bachelor of Digital Media learning within an international industry context.”
Ms Luan said the Mongolia Special Studies program formed part of an ongoing initiative within CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Digital Media degree to connect students with real workplace environments and authentic industry challenges.
“These experiences support more than the development of technical skills,” she said.
“They encourage students to become more independent, resilient and professionally accountable. Students develop confidence, character and stronger communication and problem-solving skills by navigating unfamiliar workplaces, responding to feedback and taking responsibility for work that has a genuine purpose.”
Ms Luan said authentic industry experience was becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence continued to influence digital media practice.
“AI is changing how digital content can be generated, edited and produced, but students still need to understand audience needs, communicate with clients, make informed creative decisions and take responsibility for the quality and appropriateness of their work,” she said.
“Working in a real industry environment helps students learn when and how digital tools, including AI-enabled tools, may be used responsibly. It also develops the professional judgement, originality and human-centred understanding that cannot be gained by relying on technology alone.”
Ms Luan said the program - which was initiated by fellow Digital Media lecturer Andrew Couzens and has since expanded to welcome students from a range of disciplines - prepared students to engage critically and responsibly with emerging technologies while maintaining professional, ethical and creative standards.
“Students learn that effective digital media practice involves more than operating software or generating content. It requires an understanding of context, culture, purpose, audience and the people affected by their work.”
For Kayla, the placement provided an opportunity to build confidence and gain a broader understanding of how creative work is developed and delivered within international workplaces.
“I learnt so much, and not just about my course, but about the history and culture of a country I probably never would have thought about visiting, because I didn’t know much about it,” Kayla said.
“This trip pushed the boundaries of my comfort zone and gave me a different perspective of life, new friends and valuable experiences that I will have forever.”
Kayla’s work with iCity Film Studio and Four Seasons demonstrates how authentic learning can prepare students for a changing professional environment by enabling them to respond to real organisational needs, receive direct industry feedback, engage responsibly with emerging technologies and produce outcomes for genuine audiences.
Take the first steps towards a career in digital media at CQUniversity.
