Memorial lecture honours champion of cultural relations between Australia and India
Published on 31 March, 2011
The second annual Dr Martand Joshi* Memorial Lecture will be held soon in Sydney to honour a champion of cultural relations between Australia and India...
This year's FREE lecture, from 6pm-8.30pm on Tuesday, April 5, at CQUniversity's Sydney Campus at 400 Kent Street, features a challenging topic: 'Engaging the Student of the Future'. Please contact Alison Hensley via 02 9324 5760 or a.hensley@syd.cqu.edu.au to RSVP.
Speaker Dominic Thurbon is ready to challenge his audience to 'Engage the Student of the Future'
Presenter Dominic Thurbon, the Chief Creative Officer of international behaviour change organisation ChangeLabs and a world-class debating champion, will challenge his audience to ensure education is interesting, engaging, relevant and entertaining.
"What will student expectations be? Will we be ready for them?" he will ask.
Dominic works with partner organisations to address important social issues in areas such as health, education and skills shortages. He is currently focusing on projects to do with helping companies embrace the potential of Web 2.0 and adopt to new technologies. LINK for more details on Dominic Thurbon
* This event will recognise Dr Joshi's contribution to numerous cultural, religious, professional and community organisations in his role as Honorary Consul of India in Victoria and as International Cultural Adviser for CQUniversity's Melbourne and Sydney international campuses, before his death in May 2009.
Dr Joshi passed away shortly after returning from India, where he had been honoured for his support of education. The award-winning academic was well regarded for his work in the fields of geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography and petrology. He was equally as comfortable around students as he was around academics, government representatives and dignitaries.
Martand was active in establishing a number of cultural and professional organisations in Melbourne, including the Australia-Indian Society of Victoria. In 1987 the Chancellor of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology awarded him the Centenary Medallion for his services to the promotion of education. In September, 2008 he was conferred with CQUniversity's highest award for recognition of service, the honorary degree of Doctor of the University.
International students frequently sought advice about affordable suburban accommodation, employment opportunities, the public transport system, immigration problems and issues of public safety and security. As a Hindu priest he also found time to officiate over the blessing of children, new home sites and marriage ceremonies.
In this role at CQUniversity, he helped international students from all countries manage their transition to a university environment and Australian culture. He also mentored and coached staff on the importance of teaching and learning within different cultural contexts and encouraged wide appreciation for how students' ethnicity and cultural background contribute to their learning experience.
He was passionate about acknowledging the hard work and success of students, attending graduations and numerous academic ceremonies following his formal association with the University in 2006.