University of Newcastle’s longstanding partner nib has gone out of its way to help hundreds of the university’s international students who are away from their homes while caught in the middle of the coronavirus crisis.
They have been provided health and hygiene care packages that include hand wash and sanitiser, other healthcare necessities, as well as mental health resources.
“Moving to a new place can be an overwhelming experience for anyone, so we recognise the additional stress on those students who may be away from support networks in a different country during a pandemic,” said Professor Kevin Hall, the university’s senior deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president for global engagement & partnerships.
“Our international students make a huge contribution to our university, and we’re working hard to ensure they feel connected during this time. This thoughtful gesture will help keep our students safe and remind them that other leaders in our community are also thinking of them and their welfare.”
Hall highlighted that it’s a crucial time for Newcastle to be a place of comfort, provision, and welcome for their international guests.
“Our strong relationship with nib meant they were eager to help – we’re incredibly grateful for their support,” noted the professor, who pointed to how nib has been helping nurture University of Newcastle students for more than a decade by providing work-integrated learning opportunities and partnering on PhD programmes.
For nib managing director Mark Fitzgibbon, the care packages are a small contribution to support the health and hygiene of students currently experiencing hardship due to COVID-19.
“Now more than ever it’s important that the community keep themselves safe and healthy, and given our strong relationship with the university we’re fortunate to be in a position to provide a helping hand in keeping students healthy and connected at this time,” stated Fitzgibbon.
