Fahad Fahmi
Oh, should I look at the camera or should
Okay, beautiful.
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Got your ATAR? Not sure if TAFE or uni is right for you?
Fahad Fahmi
Hi, Adam, my name is Fahad Fahmi.
I'm currently studying my Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Victoria University.
I am midway through my fourth year.
Yeah, and I'm really happy to come and see you today.
Adam Shoemaker
- So Fahad, it's wonderful to be here with you. I'm Adam Shoemaker.
I'm the Vice Chancellor of Victoria University.
Now, I should say, what does a vice chancellor do?
Well, it's kind of like with 42,000 students and eight campuses, I'm like the principal of a big school, but we're at the tertiary level, so I love it, because this particular university is dual sector, which means we have everything from all the courses at the TAFE level right through to PhDs and beyond.
Fahad Fahmi
- But I just wanted to hear from you, why should someone study at Victoria University?
Adam Shoemaker
- Oh, look, there's no place like it.
This is the university, not just of opportunity and success, but of employability.
We've been ranked number one in the country two years in a row for employability skills.
So we have this very in-built, absolutely close relationship with industry of the best sort, so if you're thinking about your career, this is the place.
- How can Victoria University help me get a job after I graduate?
- Well, what we wanna do is get you a job before you graduate, that's the key.
In other words, everyone else says, "upon graduation," and we are saying, "Get as many work experiences as you can built into the curriculum.”
"Get as many placements as you can built into the curriculum."
Fahad Fahmi
- Yeah, and I've actually seen that quite a lot, even from my peers, where actually, some of them even secured the job by the second year.
Another question I had, so for the Victory University, one of my favourite things about it is the community and the culture.
I wanna hear from you what the community and culture is like at Victoria University.
Adam Shoemaker
- Well, I love it.
I've been to lots of different universities as someone who's worked there.
I have never been to one which has 167 different languages being spoken by the students.
I only speak two.
I feel completely at a disadvantage compared to most of the students.
But what's great is that people bring a global perspective, so that's what's distinctive here.
It's very, very, if you like a place which is diverse but inclusive at the same time.
What is it that you were surprised by the most at Victoria University?
Fahad Fahmi
- Yeah, so basically when I came to Victoria University, I was really unfamiliar about the Block Model.
Coming from the traditional way, even from high school, where basically, you're doing four subjects at once, five subjects at once, that was quite tedious and actually made me lose interest in studying.
The Block Model has actually changed me. Basically in high school, I would be lucky if I got a 77%.
Right now, I'm basically approaching my fourth year, midway through my fourth year, actually, and my lowest grade throughout all these years is actually a 77%.
Adam Shoemaker
- Oh, that's your lowest?
Fahad Fahmi
- Lowest grade.
Adam Shoemaker
- It’s gone from highest to lowest. (laughing)
Fahad Fahmi
- (laughing) Exactly, yeah.
And that's why I've had such a good experience and what happens with that Block Model, it allows me to be interested in that subject.
Because essentially, I'll give you an example.
Imagine playing soccer for five minutes, and then basketball for five minutes, and then rugby for five minutes and continuing on it.
You're not really gonna be able to enjoy the game.
And that's what happens here is basically am I really able to actually focus on that subject and really gain that information, really be interested in that information.
Adam Shoemaker
- What was it that you wish you had known when you were in high school that you didn't know?
Fahad Fahmi
- Yeah, that's actually a very good question, because I remember when I got the ATAR I felt like the ATAR was me.
That that's who I was.
But then afterwards, I realised, and I basically came to the realisation that that ATAR is not who I am.
What's more important is basically passion of what you have and consistencies to work hard, as well as basically ensuring that you surround yourself with a supportive environment, and that's here at Victoria University.
I was able to find that I've had the supportive environment to basically help me develop both in a career way and as well as in a personal way.
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