The Global Society

#outtakes

When it comes to saying “yes” to life’s wild opportunities, Marnie Watson (IEAA-F) Watson has mastered the art—and her stories are nothing short of extraordinary. From living through Jakarta’s political unrest in the late ‘90s to spearheading groundbreaking international education projects in Vietnam, Marnie’s journey is as inspiring as it is globe-spanning. In this episode, recorded at the Australian International Education Conference, Marnie shares unforgettable moments, like navigating tear gas during the fall of Suharto, exploring Vietnam’s chaotic charm with her young family, and gutting a bus to create a mobile recruitment experience. Her anecdotes are both gripping and hilarious, capturing the spirit of resilience and curiosity that has defined her career. We also dive deep into her passion for girls’ education in developing nations, including her team’s work supporting the VEERNI Literacy Program in Rajasthan, India. And if that’s not enough, Marnie reflects on her rural Australian roots, the power of language learning to foster understanding, and how living abroad has shaped her worldview. This is a conversation full of heart, humor, and wisdom. Whether you’re a global educator, a curious adventurer, or someone looking for inspiration to say “yes” more often, Marnie’s stories will leave you smiling, reflecting, and ready to pack your bags. Enjoy! https://lnkd.in/gFQ7fef4

Christmas might be just around the corner, but it's clear that we're far from the end. Rather than being a few weeks out from that warm and fuzzy period where the higher ed world goes quiet for a bit, it feels more like entering the eye of a cyclone... a brief moment of calm before the chaos resumes. Over the past few weeks there have been some important news stories: the ESOS legislation failing to get through the Senate, the closure of a number of providers (which is a nuanced story in itself), and the breaking news the changes to Ministerial Directive 107 might be in the works. Dirk Mulder (Editor, The Koala News) and Rob Malicki (The Global Society) sit down for one of the last times in 2024 to bring you up to date on all the major news stories across the sector... and it's a big end to the year. This episode is brought to you by Choosing Your Uni⁠ (choosingyouruni.com), the platform that's changing the way that students research and choose their university. This episode is also brought to you by ⁠The Koala News⁠, Australia's international education news site. We're also grateful for the support from Insider Studios on this episode - the world of content is shifting, so don't get left behind, the professionals at Insider are there to guide you. https://lnkd.in/erEcWQz8

At the start of each podcast episode, I ask my editor to add a "teaser". It's a highlight from the conversation designed to grab the listener's attention and spark some curiosity. When I listened back to this episode, the teaser instantly had me laughing hard because it's about.... lentils! 😂 Not that I'm being flippant (some people take their lentils very seriously!), but straight away you can hear that Jason Howard and I are having a great time recording this episode of Global Horizons. Jason Howard has had quite an incredible journey. From growing up in the picturesque, alternative town of Bellingen, in Northern NSW, to founding StudyLink, and now leading global innovations in education technology as the Global Head of Recruitment and Admission Solutions at Flywire, Jason’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability, perseverance, and a touch of serendipity. In this episode, Jason shares his journey from a would-be lawyer to an entrepreneur and education trailblazer. He takes us through formative moments, like discovering the international student organisation AIESEC at university, which opened his eyes to the global opportunities that would shape his career. Along the way, we dive into his early days of burning CD-ROMs for university marketing, his transition to the UK during StudyLink’s growth years, and the lessons he’s learned about navigating change in an ever-evolving industry. Jason’s reflections on the evolution of technology in education are as insightful as they are relatable. From the clunky tools of the ’90s to today’s buzzworthy generative AI, he discusses the enduring importance of storytelling, human connection, and quality content. And beyond the professional sphere, Jason opens up about his love for travel, his connection to regional Australia, and his vision for giving back to Indigenous communities. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a career that’s as fulfilling as it is impactful, or how to embrace change with open arms, this conversation is for you. Jason’s mix of wisdom, humour, and grounded perspective makes this one a must-listen. https://lnkd.in/epfgAeqB

After a year of chaos, stress and lack of consultation... could it all be for nothing? Earlier this week, the Opposition announced that it would not be supporting the Government's changes to the ESOS legislation. In one way, it's a sigh of relief. But in another, it just creates more uncertainty. In today's episode of the Koala International Education News, presented by Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder and Rob Malicki are joined by Phil Honeywood, the CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) to dig into just what on earth happened.... and what it means for Australian international education going forward. We'll also get into some of the other news, including some dramatic statistics following the re-election of Donald Trump to the US Presidency. Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠The Koala News⁠, Australia's international education news site, and The Global Society⁠, Australia's learning abroad support company. We're also grateful for the support from Insider Studios (⁠https://lnkd.in/e5WrJY_Z⁠) on this episode - the world of content is shifting, so don't get left behind, the professionals at Insider are there to guide you. https://lnkd.in/eRGQj-wA

In this episode of Global Horizons, we're trying something a little different. Our industry is full of interesting nuances, unique programs, and innovative approaches. So why not dive into some of these for a little explore from time to time? So here's our first little exploration. Veronica Wong is the Manager of the University of Technology Sydney' groundbreaking BUiLD program: the Beyond UTS International Leadership Development program. BUiLD is a co-curricular program that focuses on developing students' global citizenship skills. Which leads to the question: what is global citizenship anyway? As Veronica explains in this conversation with Rob Malicki, Global Citizenship is a natural extension of learning abroad experiences. For those working in learning abroad, it is the next logical step for passionate, engaged students to take on a path towards creating positive impact in the world. #globalcitizenship #intled #learningabroad https://lnkd.in/eycCv9mU

As the AIEC buzz quietly fades away, international educators are now looking ahead to the future... and changes are looming. Yes, there's the pending "caps" legislation, notionally due before Parliament on 18th November... but maybe not as the Government's legislative agenda is still quite full and sitting days are running short. But changes are looming in other areas too. The New Colombo Plan is currently consulting on its future direction, and on a global scale, the US Presidential Election has the potential to flip so many things upside down (at time of recording, the election result isn't yet known... how did we do on our predictions? You'll find out!) There are also some good news stories out there and international education has proven nothing if not resilient over the past few decades - some of the stories out there reinforce our sector's enormous commitment to our communities. https://lnkd.in/ebU4E2CM

This episode of Global Horizons is a cracker!

Okay okay, so we're just a LITTLE late posting last week's Global Horizons episode. It might have a little to do with the epic Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) that was going on last week. Even though Dirk Mulder and I recorded the episode well in time, and even had it published on Saturday, somehow I forgot to cross post to LinkedIn. Let's blame the post-AIEC hangover, eh? https://lnkd.in/eNiw5u6C

The dreaded Senate report has landed. And as to be expected, the Government's report paints a rosy picture of legislation that just needs a few tweaks in order to be passed. But the dissenting views in the report paint a very different picture. Given almost all of the feedback provided to the committee was negative about the legislation, the reports from the Coalition, Greens and Independent Senator, David Pocock, were fiercely critical. What results will that dissent have on the passage of the bill? Well, it's likely to still be a few weeks before we know, with the Government deferring debate on the bill until November. But alongside this saga that keeps on giving, there's also some good news from around the industry. It's awards and recognition season and our LinkedIn feeds are lighting up with good news stories. Likewise, AIEC touches down in Melbourne next week and I'm sure many many listeners can't wait to reconnect with colleagues, and share a well earned glass of wine (or three), after what has really been a hell of a year. Come by booth 86, The Global Society - The Koala News booth to say g'day - we'll see you there! https://lnkd.in/eYrCrK-8