Students have passport to new insights

Two Agricultural Science students from the University of Adelaide have represented Australia at an international conference, gaining valuable experience along the way.

Amanda Giles and Wayne Mattschoss, both final-year students at the University's Waite Campus, attended the 2nd International Agricultural Students Symposium held in Malaysia in July.

The symposium - a student-run event at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) - included delegates from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, China, Oman and Gambia.

With a theme of "Sharing and Collaborating for the Future", Amanda and Wayne hoped to use the conference to share ideas and experiences with other agriculture students from across the globe, as well as promoting an understanding of Australian agricultural heritage and research.

Wayne, 26, originally from a farming family at Barabba north of Adelaide, presented to the symposium on food production in Australia.

"My talk aimed to enlighten students from other nations about the major food production areas of Australia, common agricultural systems and practices, and ways in which Australia can contribute to the improvement of agricultural practices across the globe," Wayne said.

"At the conference we were exposed to students from a number of our most important agricultural trading partners. I found this networking opportunity incredibly valuable - I not only learned a lot about international agricultural practices but I was inspired by the passion demonstrated by the participants towards agriculture and making a positive contribution to their country. I've also come away from this event with a number of new friends," he said.

Amanda, 22, who hails from a farming family at Lucindale in the state's south-east, said her experience at the conference was "very rewarding".

"Meeting people from all over the world in an unfamiliar environment really made me step out of my comfort zone and gain a greater understanding of different cultures. I feel this insight is something I will carry with me for life," she said.

"Gaining an understanding of the level of study and research in agriculture at other universities from around the world was inspiring."

Earlier this year, Amanda and Wayne re-established the Adelaide University Agricultural Club, with the aim of encouraging interaction among agricultural students at all levels, and interaction with the wider agricultural industry and community.

Story by David Ellis