What is BRIS-Net?
BRIS-Net (Business Rural and Isolated Students Network) is an exciting student-run project which not only harnesses the collective talents, passions and energy of our student body, but also aims to improve the lives of so many first year students making that leap into Brisbane and uni life. The program is designed to ‘dispel the myths’ (and ease the pain) associated with the transition from rural to metropolitan areas and from high school to university life.
The BRIS-Net project aims to
- Improve outreach to rural/isolated students
- Improve access of rural/isolated students to QUT
- Improve the information and advisory service to rural/isolated students by the Faculty of Business
- Improve the participation, retention and success of rural/isolated students within the Faculty of Business
- Establish an outreach and support program which is sustainable in the long-term
- Ultimately expand the network to include students from other Faculties and outreach into other rural and isolated areas which may not be represented in the Faculty of Business
Program activities
BRIS-Net aims to support students from rural and isolated areas through a number of initiatives:
- Outreach program. This activity focuses on linking the University to rural and isolated areas through student mentors/role models (current Faculty of Business students) who reconnect with their high schools and provide information and recount personal experiences about going to university in Brisbane. Through an interactive web-site and planned school visits these students provide their insights into adjusting to university life, living away from home, establishing networks and dealing with isolation.
- Support program. This involves the implementation of a network for current and commencing rural students comprising mentoring, networking events, targeted orientation and the website as an information hub.
An important goal of the BRIS-Net project is to establish network and support services which can be sustained and developed over the long-term. It is hoped the program can serve as a model for the University, and eventually be expanded to incorporate students from all Faculties, with outreach to all regions of Queensland and Northern News South Wales.
The BRIS-Net team has run a number of exciting social activities including the "Dude, where’s my uni?" orientation day. Check out the photos!
Read Sarah Moran's article on BRIS-Net. (PDF, 13Kb)
How to get involved
If you are interested in being involved in the BRIS-Net project we'd love to hear from you!
Alison MacIntyre
Coordinator of BRIS-Net
e: a.macintyre@student.qut.edu.au
Joanne Venturato
QUT Initiate Mentor (QUT Business Advantage Coordinator)
e: j.venturato@qut.edu.au
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