Sandie Elsom's workshop during the MCD Seminar

Sandra Elsom (USC) 2014

Business Study, Australian Study and Logistics Management Skills

Profile

Sandra Elsom is an Associate Lecturer in the Preparatory and Enabling Unit at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. She is also a member of the My Tertiary Education Day (MyTED) project team, which aims to raise the capacity of primary school students to aspire to higher education.

Previously, she spent 20 years in the corporate world, mostly in various roles within Australia’s tourism and travel industry. Sandra’s interests are focussed on widening participation in tertiary education by understanding the motives of students who return to study, and the barriers that deter students from pursuing higher education. She blends academic content with humour, hands on activities, and class participation to engage and inform.

Courses

Sandra taught three courses as a guest lecturer at RheinAhrCampus…

The Business Study Skills course focussed on academic writing in English, and the Australian Study & Presentation Skills course had an emphasis on speaking English in academic situations.The Logistics Management elective provided students with an opportunity to work in teams to solve international logistical issues through collaboration and innovation.

Sandra's first academic exchange with RheinAhrCampus was a successful, enjoyable learning experience for both her and her students. Positive feedback from the students stated, "I really liked the contents Sandra presented.. Her stories from Australia were helpful to get a better intercultural understanding." Many students agreed, saying "we worked with real business skills: partners, students, universities, and we improved our English language too."