VC visits VCE virtuosos
VC and students
Who better to ask for advice on what to do after school than the Vice-Chancellor of Australia's largest university? That's exactly what some of the state's high-achieving students got to do this morning, as Monash Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ed Byrne visited schools throughout Melbourne.
Professor Byrne visited four secondary schools in Melbourne on the day Victorian Year 12 students received their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score.
High-achieving students from MacRobertson Girls' High School, McKinnon Secondary College, Glen Waverley High School and Mount Scopus Memorial College were able to talk to Professor Byrne about life at university, and the choices that lie ahead of them.
Professor Byrne congratulated the students on their excellent results and spoke about the educational experience available at Monash University.
"Here at Monash, we're preparing you to be global citizens. We aim to help students achieve a position where you can work in New York or Beijing or Melbourne," Professor Byrne said.
"The world is changing very quickly and it's future, in effect, is in your hands."
Professor Byrne went to answer students' questions about their study options next year, including the option of double degrees. Many students were enthusiastic about the Monash Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery.
McKinnon Secondary College principal, Ms Pitsa Binnion thanked Professor Byrne for his time.
"It was an absolute honour to have Professor Byrne visit McKinnon Secondary College. Our students will never forget this opportunity that they were afforded. The relationship between Monash and McKinnon Secondary College is one that we value and wish to continue to build," Ms Binnion said.
Many of the students who spoke with Professor Byrne were offered a scholarship by Monash University for study in 2012. Scholarships for Excellence, worth up to $15,000 annually, are offered to students achieving a perfect ATAR of 99.95.
Professor Byrne said the University will offer more than 2000 scholarships and bursaries as part of a coursework scholarships program worth over $13 million in 2012. Half of these will be offered to indigenous students, students from regional and remote areas in Australia, and to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.