Around 40 guests and students met at the Stamford River room in Brisbane for the Community and Corporate Engagement luncheon, held last Friday (February 5).

Students were able to mingle with guests from Suncorp, CPA, Redcross and other local not-for-profit and corporate companies in Brisbane.

The luncheon gave 16 international students the opportunity to network and meet community and corporate leaders in a social environment.

To be invited to the luncheon, the students were required to participate in a 4-week leadership workshop where they develop soft skills such as leadership, communication skills and teamwork.

The Community and Corporate Engagement program is based on the philosophy of giving back to the community.

Many international students who travel to Australia for study only engage with their ethnocentric communities and often find it difficult to meet others.

The Community and Corporate Engagement program allows students to engage with the local community in a non-threatening and supported fashion.

The program also recognises the increasing value of additional abilities in the work place by providing specific training to develop culturally suitable soft skills in students from a variety of backgrounds.

It is designed to complement the academic skills and abilities developed in the formal education process.

A 2-tiered work placement allows students to gain experience in both the not-for-profit (NFP) and community sector, along with experience in the commercial and corporate sector.

The program will run every semester, with the luncheon following, and is an initiative of the Training Employment and Career Coaching Division.

Photo: CQU Brisbane International Campus Director Paul Harrigan presents a certificate of participation to Fitria Astariani.

Photo (below): Around 40 guests and students enjoyed the luncheon.