Kangan Batman student selected for overseas conference
1 December 2004
Aimee Fontaine
Kangan Batman TAFE student Aimee Fontaine has been selected to present a paper at a prestigious international student conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Aimee, 25, from Broadmeadows is in the final term of the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Polymer Technology) at Kangan Batman. She previously transferred from the third year of degree studies in chemical engineering at Melbourne University to begin a Advanced Diploma of Polymer Technology at the Polymer Engineering Centre at Broadmeadows campus in 2003.
Aimee also completed a Diploma in Business Administration earlier this year through flexible delivery through the Administrative Studies department.
Aimee has been selected to attend the 'e-ducation Without Borders 2005' biennial conference, held in Abu Dhabi in February, 2005. This is the third conference, under the auspices of the UAE Higher Colleges of Technology, and the patronage of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
A group of students from the UAE, who believed that electronic education has the potential to transcend boundaries, organized the first conference in 2001. A resounding success, it was attended by 210 tertiary students from 47 countries. The second conference in 2003 grew to attract more than 500 students from 70 countries, and the 2005 conference is expected to surpass this. Students come from vocational education and training institutions, such as Australian TAFEs, UK Polytechics and US Community Colleges, as well as universities.
Aimee Fontaine is one of five students from Victorian TAFEs who will be sponsored by the Victorian TAFE Association (VTA) and the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE). OTTE is sponsoring airfares, accommodation and the conference registration costs, while the VTA is sponsoring a three day cultural and educational program after the conference, where students will visit UAE institutions, organisations and workplaces.
"The VTA is pleased to be able to promote Victorian TAFE at a prestigious national conference, at a time when Victoria is building strong education links with the UAE," said David Williams, Executive Director of the VTA. The selection process had been quite difficult, Mr Williams said, as students needed good research and presentation skills. They were required to decide on a topic for a research or critical analysis paper, and produce an abstract of the paper and a biography for the selectors.
"My paper explores the role of e-learning tools such as online discussion, interactive CD and DVD and game technologies and their potential use in therapy based education," said Aimee. "The paper will include a case study, of a twenty-year-old student, and outlines specific examples of the role e-learning played in her recovery from obsessive-compulsive disorder."
On her return, Aimee Fontaine has been selected to report on the 'e-ducation Without Borders' conference to senior executives of TAFE at the annual VTA conference in April, 2005.
"I am delighted to have been chosen by Kangan Batman TAFE and the VTA to attend the international e-learning conference in the Arab Emirates," said Aimee. "I believe it is an excellent opportunity to share my experiences and learn from others".
