Components

Save the Date! Monday 23 - Friday 27 February. Orientation is designed to help you settle in, connect with your peers, and discover everything you need to thrive in your graduate studies.

This program will equip you with the cross-cultural competencies and international skillset required in a well-rounded graduate with a skill set that extends well beyond the technicalities of your degree discipline.

Whether you are a student looking to work in Australia, planning to join a global organisation, or someone who hopes to gain work experience overseas, join this program to take the first step towards developing a truly global mindset!

The program is composed of 2 main strands, and students are required to participate in all components to successfully complete the program:

  • The Program Launch Day consists of two sessions. The first session will guide you through developing your intercultural skills, and in the second session you will meet your mentors and fellow group members. Main training topics will include:

    • Different aspects of the local and global knowledge important for employment, including expectations of local and international employers, established workplace processes in local and international organisations, and hierarchical structure in local and international organisations.
    • Intercultural resilience and mindfulness including cultural self-awareness and socio-linguistic awareness, openness and curiosity to different opinions, cultural sensitivities in work discussions and interviews, and listening and observing skills.

    Session 1:  Mentee Training
    Wednesday 6 August 2025,  1 - 5:30PM

    This will be the first session in the Intercultural Career Mentoring Program. The session is designed to create an uplift in the benefits of any mentoring process by increasing both levels of cultural awareness and specific intercultural skills.

    During the session, participants will create their own personal cultural profile to highlight how their own cultural background influences many common behaviours.

    From here they will create templates for dealing respectfully with people whose cultural background differs from their own.

    The session integrates activities designed to clearly demonstrate the differences that are usually unconsciously disregarded or assumed to be non-existent.

    Direct outcomes for participants of this session are:

    • To be able to identify their own personal cultural orientation.
    • To be able to critically analyse any intercultural situation.
    • To correctly use templates that assist mentees in applying their intercultural skills until these skills become fully integrated in a mentee’s behaviour.
    • To understand when cultural differences may not require a modification in behaviour.

    As indirect outcomes of this training, participants will have a better understanding of the intercultural barriers to employment and how to mitigate risk factors as well as increased confidence in dealing with people from an unfamiliar background.

    Session 2: Mentor Introduction
    Wednesday 6 August 2025, 6 - 8PM

    This will be the second session in the Intercultural Career Mentoring Program. In this component you will meet your mentors and fellow mentees. The mentors and mentees will be from various fields of Engineering and IT as well as various different cultural backgrounds, however have similar goals to achieve from the program. You will have the opportunity to share experiences and advice, connect and learn from each other.

    In the weeks following the Mentor Introduction, we encourage you and your group to continue your mentoring conversation via online platforms.

  • Participants are invited to attend specialist mentor sessions introducing professional concepts and behavioural concepts of cultures of four culturally different business environments.

    Please note that you should attend at least two to qualify for the  program Melbourne Plus credential. The two sessions must focus on cultures that differ from your personal cultural background. You are welcome to attend more than two if you would like to do so.

    Australia Focus: Thursday 14th August 5pm

    Professor Shanton Chang is a leading expert in international education, global employability, andcross-cultural communication. A recipient of the IEAA Distinguished Contribution to InternationalEducation Award and the 2024 North Star Medal of Lifetime Achievement, he was also namedone of PIE News’ Top 50 Voices in International Education (Australia–ASEAN) in 2023.Shanton isknown for driving strategic initiatives that prepare students for global careers. He works closelywith industry to enhance graduate employability. His research explores how international studentsnavigate digital and cultural spaces, shaping inclusive practices in higher education. Withextensive leadership experience and a strong cross-sector network, he brings global perspectiveand impact to the evolving field of international education.

    China Focus: Friday 22nd August 1pm

    Julia Gong is the Director of Arts and Culture as well as the Head of the China Capability andLanguage Centre, Asialink at the University of Melbourne. Julia obtained her Master of Education atthe University of Melbourne in 2003. She joined the University of Melbourne in 2007. As one ofAustralia's leading cross-cultural educators and advisors, with 35 years' language and cross-culturaltraining experience, Julia was the leading course developer and key presenter of the culturalintelligence courses at Asialink. She has delivered tailored in-house training sessions for clients froma variety of industries. Julia's negotiation skills, strong communication skills and her extensivecontacts both in China and Australia make her an expert in partnership establishment anddevelopment across cultures

    India Focus: Tuesday 26th August 1pm

    Juhee Ahmed is a strategic adviser with deep expertise in India–Australia engagement, technology, and higher education partnerships. As Strategic Adviser at the University of Melbourne (2023–2025), she has driven India strategy, helped launch the university’s first dual degree in India, and supported the Melbourne Global Centre in Delhi. With over 15 years in India’s tech industry, including leadership roles at Microsoft India Development Centre and IIT Hyderabad’s deep-tech incubator, Juhee brings cross-cultural fluency, strategic insight, and a vast network across business, government, startups, and academia in India, Australia, and the US. Her Australian–Indian heritage and experience in communications and social impact give her a unique edge in building global collaborations.

    Western Europe and USA Focus: Thursday 4th September 1pm

    Ulrike Ernst is an experienced, MBA-qualified leader with a broad background across industries and cultures. She holds degrees in engineering, business administration, marketing, and human resources, earned in Germany, Australia,the US, and Ireland.​

    Her career has spanned senior roles in global companies such as Swatchgroup, BSH Home Appliances, Bosch Power Tools, Metabo, and Hilti, working across customer service, business development, marketing, and operations. Ulrike has lived and worked in Ireland, Germany, Australia, and the US, and has worked extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

  • Thursday 18 September 2025, 5:30 - 7:30PM

    The final event of this program will be the Celebration and Networking Event. Here you will be invited to come along to network and connect with all the participants of the program. An opportunity to build connections and further your professional partnerships whilst in real time putting your learning from the program to practice, as well as to build connections with the other mentors and students in the program who aren't in your immediate group. This is a great opportunity to learn more from the mentors about the industries in which they are working - industries you may move into following graduation.