UQ student discovers his advantage in Asia and beyond

Michael Twycross may have come to the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus but his studies have taken him around the world.

As part of his student experience, he has visited Mexico, China and Taiwan and, when he graduates on Thursday with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Diploma of Languages (Chinese), he will do so with an arsenal of achievements.

Mr Twycross will also be among the first recipients of a UQ Advantage Award, a program that encourages students to participate in a range of co-curricular activities to foster their personal, professional and academic development.

He said the award had provided him with several opportunities to participate in and be recognised for activities at home and abroad that have expanded his career prospects.

“In addition to my studies, I participated in the Universitas 21 summer school in Mexico, studied Chinese in Taiwan, did research at Tianjin University in China, presented at the UQ Global Symposium and became an ambassador for the UQ Advantage Office,” Mr Twycross said.

“My university experience would not have been as fulfilling without the award.”

Through the program, Mr Twycross combined his interests in Chinese culture and engineering by participating in a research program at Tianjin University.

“My choice to participate in the Tianjin study tour was one of the best decisions I have made in my life as it gave me a chance to practice Chinese by translating engineering papers,” he said.

“My time in Tianjin inspired me to study Chinese intensively for three months in a class of ten people at the National Taiwan Normal University Mandarin Training Centre.

“My Chinese improved immensely and I built friendships that I would never have made otherwise.”

When he returned to Australia, he joined the executive of the UQ Chapter of the Australia-China Youth Association (ACYA), later rising to become its National Education Director.

“My ACYA journey all began with UQ and the Advantage Award,” Mr Twycross said.

“When I began my degree, I never thought that I would be on the National Executive of a youth organisation.

“I am now in charge of the entire ACYA education portfolio, where I manage a team to bring scholarships, volunteering and study opportunities to members.”

Mr Twycross said it was important that students to make the most of their time at UQ.

“The opportunity to go overseas, experience different cultures and meet new people is invaluable,” he said.

“You never know who you might meet or where your experiences may take you.”

This year marks 101 years of graduates at UQ, since the first degrees were awarded in 1913.

Queensland’s largest university has graduated more than 210,000 students, and has a proud cohort of alumni who have gone on to make their mark in more than 150 countries.

Media: Belinda Brear, UQ Advantage Office, 07 3365 2929, b.brear@uq.edu.au or
Georgia Mitchell, UQ Advantage Office, 07 3346 0626, georgia.mitchel@uq.edu.au

For more on UQ Graduations: UQ Communications, 3346 7887 or communications@uq.edu.au

July 2014 Graduation Schedule: http://www.uq.edu.au/graduations/july-2014-ceremony-dates-times

Live coverage of the graduation ceremonies available here: http://www.uq.edu.au/graduations/live-broadcast