Monash made me feel that my opinion matters, and that
I can contribute in some way to society. The world views
that I acquired from the Monash Bachelor of Arts inspired
me to reflect on issues of gender discrimination, and
encouraged me to give something back when I returned to
my home country of Sri Lanka.”
LIHINI RATWATTE (Sri Lanka)
Bachelor of Arts (Global). Double Major in Communications and International Studies (2014)
Project Officer – UN Women, Sri Lanka
Through UN Women, Lihini works in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs
and other key public institutions to address the needs of women in Sri Lanka. She specifically
works to support female heads of households, while also contributing to the country's
peacebuilding agenda by engaging women in ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts.
During my time at Monash, I developed the ability to
recognise the strengths and nuances in different cultures
and ideas, not only because of the academic content that
I was exposed to but also because I got the opportunity
to be a part of a diverse student cohort. ‘Critical thinking’
can be an overused term in the world of academia. My
professors in Monash took the time to teach me how to
think from a multidimensional perspective rather than
assuming I already knew how to.”
AMEER SOBHAN (Bangladesh)
Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences), Majoring in International Studies (2014)
Master of Science (MSc) in Global Governance and Diplomacy (2016), University of Oxford
Programs and Partnerships Analyst at UNOPS
Ameer works in the regional office of UNOPS in Bangkok. In his role as a member of the
Regional Director's team, he furthers efforts to position UNOPS as a leading partner in
infrastructure, program management, and other specialty areas. He is also deployed on
missions to provide strategy development and communication support across Asia.
INFLUENCING
GLOBAL CHANGE
The arts and social sciences leave students with more than
just a certificate – they inspire an ethos of championing
equality and justice that lasts a lifetime. Graduates translate
their individual passion to make a difference into careers with
governments and organisations all over the world, approaching
complex issues with the versatility and solution-based thinking
that inspires positive change.
During my last semester at Monash, as
I was preparing to complete my final
courses, I was also actively applying for
internships and jobs back in Nairobi.
I thought it was far-fetched because there
were so many other qualified people who
could get them, but that didn’t stop me
from applying, even with my one-page
CV. As I was almost done with my final
exams, I got my first interview invitation.
Thanks to the skills gained in Monash,
I was courageous enough to express
myself well during the interview and a few
days later I got an offer letter for my first
real job.”
SAIDA LULU (Kenya)
Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Communications and International
Studies (2011)
Regional Institutional Partnership Development Advisor at SOS
Children’s Village
Saida is the Regional Institutional Partnership Development Advisor
for Eastern and Southern Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She
supports various countries in the portfolio in proposal development,
grant acquisition, and fund management, and greatly enjoys seeing
the social impact of her work for children in the region.
Monash Malaysia helped shape me as an adult.
It gave me what I needed the most:confidence and
the belief that I was good enough to go out and take
the world by storm, and that if I put my mind to it,
all opportunities are accessible.”
ABEER YUSUF (India)
Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts (2011)
Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in International Studies and Journalism (2010)
Associate Producer at Roundhouse Radio
Originally from India, Abeer is now an Associate Producer and Board Operator at a radio
station in Canada. She works on an arts and culture show called Sense of Place, which
looks at questions of identity, belonging, and creative serendipity in Vancouver.
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