Cultural and economic understanding between Ormond College students and students from the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (SIFT) has been enhanced by an exchange program between the two institutions.

Sixteen SIFT university students and a guest professor participated in a study tour hosted by Ormond College during a two-week stay in late January 2013. With a curriculum focused on Australia’s mineral and resources industry, the students were treated to diverse facets of the industry with presentations by academics, business leaders and industry groups including representatives from the Australian Competition Consumer Commission and the banking industry.

In an exchange program for the best finance students from the institutions, this visit followed a trip by seven Ormond students to Shanghai in July 2012 to attend a summer school program funded by scholarships from the Institute. In China, the Ormond students studied green energy and the activities of major Chinese steel and carbon companies.

In its third year the program is part of a scholarly exchange relationship between the institutions which aims to develop economic  and trade links and cultural exchange and understanding between the two countries and institutions, with a focus on Australian and Chinese trade, mixed and free market economics, language and cultural activities.

Sarah Liu, a second year finance student at SIFT, said, “I have learnt both self-study and teamwork in preparing a presentation about mineral resources. As finance students we didn’t know much about minerals so we needed to do a lot of research and find a lot of data in a totally new field for us.”

During their visit to Ormond, in between workshops, group work and presentations, the SIFT students also had time for some sightseeing in Melbourne and rural Victoria including Healesville and the Australian Open tennis.

“The program has been very popular because it provides students with a global view of university life where they gain knowledge about how students study abroad and experience College life,” said SIFT’s Professor of Finance Jie Ling.

Three Ormond students actively participated and assisted in hosting the SIFT students to ensure they had a thoroughly enjoyable and educational visit. One of the Ormond College program student leaders Austin Chen, a second year law student, said, “The student leader role involved being a facilitator in learning and a friend and guide around the city. We were together almost 24/7 during their visit.’’

SIFT also runs programs with Harvard, Yale and Cambridge Universities.