Students and teachers from India experience Melbourne life during the 2022 BSc (Blended) Research Camp

Running 19-27 November, the Camp is designed to give high-achieving third-year BSc (Blended) students an opportunity to experience life at the University of Melbourne and participate in a rich program of academic activities and social events.

On arrival, the 26 students and eight teachers were welcomed to the University with a morning tea hosted by Professor Michael Wesley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and Associate Professor Alex Johnson, the Faculty of Science’s Associate Dean International.

The eight-day packed program included campus tours, academic sessions for specific research areas, visits to the Queen Victoria Night Market and plenty of social opportunities to get to know each other and academic staff from across the University.

A separate professional development program was also held for the BSc (Blended) teachers who accompanied the students.

The Camp formally concluded with a VIP reception at University House attended by senior University leaders, including the Dean of Science, Professor Moira O’Bryan. Representatives from Austrade and the University’s philanthropic community also attended.

This is only the second time the Camp has run since the program’s inception due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions on global travel. Adding to the excitement, this year was also the first time the program welcomed students undertaking a variety of different majors across the multiple partners of the BSc (Blended) program.

By embedding students with research groups aligned to their major, the University showcased a much broader and tailored range of activities across the Faculty of Science in areas of interest for the students, potentially sparking further motivation to continue post-graduate studies.

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Blended) is one of the University’s premier undergraduate teaching and learning initiatives in India. Launched in 2016, the program offers the opportunity for higher education institutions in India to deliver an innovative new three-year curriculum that is designed, and quality assured by the University.

In total, six out of seven partners of the BSc (Blended) were represented at this year’s Camp. This is a significant milestone and the first time the University has hosted this many BSc (Blended) partners concurrently on campus, a recognition of the ongoing success of the program and even stronger engagement with international networks.