Project LOTUS: Allowing international students to blossom at RMIT

The beginning of university life can be a scary time, even for the most self-assured among us.

Everything is new: teaching, learning, buildings, people, services and opportunities. Now, imagine you’re an international student, faced with all of the above, but in a new country and new culture.

In this tumultuous time, universities like RMIT may lose talented international students who feel overwhelmed, anxious, unsupported and underprepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

There is a gap between enrolment and the beginning of a student lifecycle, and feeling settled and comfortable at RMIT is an opportunity to attract world-class graduates, perhaps forever.

LOTUS aims to begin to bridge that gap. It’s a program tailored for prospective international students and their parents with the aim of building a strong sense of belonging prior to study begin. 

LOTUS will be offered on a CANVAS shell where both students and their parents can enrol. This provides an introduction to CANVAS for students and parents as well as supporting the beginning of their student journey.

It gives parents the added benefit of knowing that there is care and support for their children. 

The program consists of six elements:

• MY LOTUS: An overview of RMIT values, relevant policies and procedures, resources to promote connection and understanding. This would also include insights through the project of Bundyi Girri.
  
• MY PROGRAM: Specific information such as structure and pathways to provide academic clarity and future planning. 
  
• MY STUDY: Study and assessment skills training,  awareness of support and library resources to encourage healthy scholarly habits and better academic outcomes.
  
• MY SOCIAL: Engagement with clubs and communities, participation at events and meet ups to build a stronger sense of belonging and connection.
  
• MY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: Specialised skills and learning to build confidence, personal growth and opportunities for transformation. For example emotional intelligence, building resilience, planning and time management.
  
• MY CAREER AND INDUSTRY CONNECTION: Participation in industry events and a focus on development of industry skills such as networking, communication, problem solving and preparedness for working in Australia.
  

Participants will receive a LOTUS badge as a reward for their engagement.

A rich transformative experience can only be achieved with a motivated, engaged and comfortable participant. The best way to create this is through direct and personalised engagement, which is a core value of the project.

The project’s website explains the psychological motivation behind the purpose of the project.

“A First Semester International Student, who feels excited but also insecure and anxious, needs to be encouraged and motivated to seek and build new relationships within the new RMIT community,” the website states.

“Achieving a sense of belonging, purpose and resilience can ease the overwhelming list of serious challenges students face at the start of their study journey.”

“It is therefore important to better understand the pains and gains of our customers and what roles they play. Exploring potential gain creators and pain relievers help in identifying a product, which we can offer.”

The idea for the project was first proposed as part of the College of Business and Law’s Innovation Jam. The idea, which came from the College Executive, was designed to identify problems through the people who experience issues day-to-day: the College’s own people.

The best ideas were supported in their development by RMIT’s entrepreneurial specialists at RMIT Activator, which ran a 12-week workshop with the aim of turning an idea into an output.

Annitta Siliato, Program Manager of the Diploma of Commerce said “Being part of the Innovation Jam at RMIT Activator provided an opportunity to be involved in an amazing project while working with a dynamic and creative people. From beginning to end we were guided, coached and supported to design and develop our minimal viable product.”

Hisham Attia, Academic and Course Coordinator, Design Thinking for Business explained the team’s experience of the process. “Along the way we learnt how to think differently, how to create and take risks, how to deeply examine the concepts of product design while examining alternative perspectives and view.

“With the added challenge of devising new ways to adapt to the COVID19 restrictions, we had to be agile and creative. Overall, we are grateful to be part of this transformative experience.”