Vice-Chancellor’s scholar Emma Perinne plans on taking her political knowledge back to her island home, where she hopes to act as a change-maker.
Tell us about your course. What are you hoping to achieve through it?
I am passionate about economics and gained an interest in politics from my participation in the Rodrigues Youth Parliaments (a program for young people to debate on crucial social and economic issues impacting islands like my own). I (also) wanted to do something different and challenge myself to explore the field of Arts which I never studied before.
I believe that these two fields make such a dynamic mix and that this double degree will offer me a complete set of skills and knowledge to work as a policy analyst/advisor in the public sector. I also knew that this field of study would benefit my island and enable me to live by my value of being a change-maker.
I hoped that this degree would forge me into a well-rounded graduate and grown-up individual.
How has your experience of Deakin been so far?
Deakin’s teachers were very competent, and made my student life enjoyable. My lecturers and tutors were extremely passionate about their field of teaching and were able to communicate such passion to their students.
They had an amiable, yet highly professional, approach to class, which ignited the students’ engagement in the learning material. The academic staff were approachable and committed.
My lecturers/tutors (also) helped in clarifying assignment tasks and gave me valuable study and career advice.
I did an internship which enabled me to apply my data analysis skills, research skills and report writing skills to a real- world industry project.
What’s one thing you learnt or explored in your course that you didn’t expect – and how has it changed your outlook?
I learnt about the history of countries, including my own through the unit Politics of Development (now titled Politics of Poverty and Prosperity). This unit taught me how the colonial history of a country impacts on its long term economic and social development.
The very source of social problems in developing nations and inequalities between nations stem from these historical events. So, when looking at the solutions to these problems, it is vital to understand the historical events that have led to the present circumstances, instead of looking only at the surface.
Have you undertaken any Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities such as internships as part of your course?
Yes, I did a virtual internship for DeakinTALENT FreelancingHUB in my third year. The DeakinTALENT FreelancingHUB internship was based on a project for a Malaysian social enterprise.
Through it, I gained increased awareness of people’s reality in Malaysia, especially those with disabilities.
This fruitful experience made me realise that, despite our broad diversity, we share a common thing called ‘humanity’. This quality of feeling compassion, empathy and love for others is what makes life such a valuable and wonderful thing. So, I realised that only with the will to make a difference, I can make a difference. Moreover, I realised that a positive impact on someone’s life, however big or small, is worthwhile.
I also discovered through this internship, I learnt that I have the required skills to work effectively in a well-diverse team and that I can adapt my in-person working capabilities to an online workplace which was challenging but very rewarding.
This internship motivated and inspired me to pursue my goals towards my dreamed career. It developed my professional skills and made me more confident about the future.
How would you describe the learning environment and culture at Deakin?
Deakin provides an inclusive environment for its students. I felt a sense of belonging to Deakin and was able to grow not only intellectually, but also as a person.
I was part of the African Students Association, through which I made friends with students from my continent. We were able to share our experiences and discover each other’s culture.
I am also a member of the Deakin Women in Politics which is an amazing platform for women to debate and voice out their views on pressing issues which are of relevance for women.
As part of the Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program, I also benefited from the mentoring services of a career coach and an Academic Mentor, which improved my job readiness.
When you first started studying at university, who did you hope Deakin would help you become – and who you describe yourself as now?
I hoped Deakin would help me become a confident, motivated, and knowledgeable young graduate.
Now, I describe myself as a resilient person and someone who is not afraid to go out of her comfort zones to realize what she deeply believes in.
I hope to gain some work experience in Australia or abroad as an economist or policy analyst. Then, I intend to go back to my home country to engage in the domestic politics.
What’s the one key thing you’ll take away from Deakin? This could be an idea, a motto, a feeling, or a piece of knowledge.
I’ll take away that studying is a wonderful process of personal growth which is worth the late nights, the early mornings, the stress, the sacrifices, the self-doubts, the failures and all the efforts it requires.
Lastly, what would you say to someone considering study/research at Deakin?
Deakin is the tertiary institution par excellence. It offers flexibility in the learning experience. It also provides quality teaching, all the necessary support services that a student might need while studying, and an inclusive and safe environment to thrive.
Visit Arts at Deakin to view the range of course combinations on offer.