Research thriving thanks to Notre Dame\u27s international student scholarship

The University of Notre Dame Australia\u27s first international student to receive a scholarship said her postgraduate research is thriving thanks to the financial, academic and community support she receives from the University. Seren Dalkiran was born in the Netherlands and now calls Sydney home as the first recipient of Notre Dame\u27s International Fee Remission Research Scholarship. Ms Dalkiran is undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy, and her research assesses the social change processes within the emerging empowered and conscious proportion of youth leaders across the globe. Notre Dame has a strong focus on treating each student as an individual, which is enhanced and enabled by its close-knit community, Ms Dalkiran said. As an international student conducting doctoral research, I have really appreciated that supportive environment. The scholarship funding has not only enabled me to conduct my research, it has also allowed me to attend leading conferences around the world to gain a deeper understanding of my field of research. Ms Dalkiran said Australia is an exciting place to work, study and socialise. Australia offers a totally different culture to my own; with so much space, the opportunity to get close to nature and easy access to the emerging dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region, Ms Dalkiran said. Australia is a young country and is open to innovation and creative and critical thinking and I like the fact that this is also reflected in its energetic and open-minded attitude towards higher education. Vice Chancellor Professor Celia Hammond said Notre Dame looks forward to welcoming other international students to its Sydney, Broome and Fremantle campuses in 2013 through the International Fee Remission Research Scholarships program. I am pleased to see Seren\u27s research flourish at Notre Dame and hope the University can provide mentorship, academic support and a community connection for other international postgraduate students through this scholarship, Professor Hammond said. The International Fee Remission Research Scholarship program will provide up to five scholarship places per academic year to international students who wish to undertake a higher degree by research at Notre Dame. Notre Dame will support individuals undertaking research degrees (including Research Masters and Doctoral studies) in the University\u27s areas of research strength, namely Health, Education, Indigenous Studies and Theology and Philosophy (including Ethics). However, the University will consider awarding Scholarships to students in other discipline areas where there is a compelling case for supporting the research student and the project and where appropriate supervision is available. For further information on Notre Dame\u27s International Fee Remission Research Scholarship, click here, or contact the Research Office in Sydney at sydney.research@nd.edu.au, or in Fremantle at research@nd.edu.au. For further information please contact: Communications Officer, Elizabeth FenechThe University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney Campus T: 02 8204 4407 E: elizabeth.fenech@nd.edu.auW: www.nd.edu.au