The Overseas Professional Experience Program (OPEP) in the School of Education at the University of Western Sydney.

1. UWS 2015
INTERNATIONAL
STUDY TOURS
Overseas
Professional
Experience
Program (OPEP)
A cultural exchange
opportunity for your
studies in the School
of Education.
2 Group Tours in
2015
Penang, Malaysia
(June/July)
Ningbo, China
(Nov/Dec)
For more
information, check
the OPEP vUWS site.
Register your
interest:
Assoc. Prof Allan White
(Penrith)
Ms Shirley Gilbert
(Penrith)
Dr Son Truong
(Bankstown)
Placements can be
used towards PE3,
Classrooms without
Borders, or as a
standalone
experience to
enhance your
teaching portfolio.

2. Overseas Professional Experience Program OPEP
Offered to students from all programs
1. Offers two large group tours to Ningbo China and Penang
Malaysia
2. Also offers small group tours to other countries
Allows students to use the experience to negotiate completion of
assessment requirements in their PE3/CSL/CWB units or as another
report for their portfolio.

3. Have a Look at the OPEP vUWS Site

4. Malaysia 2015

5. Penang
Experience the
unique and diverse
Malay/Indian/Chinese
culture.
Experience the
unique and diverse
Malay/Indian/Chinese
culture.

6. Penang Malaysia
• Staffing: The leader Assoc Prof David Cole. Leader in
training Marion Sturges.
• Tentative dates: Between semesters
• Tour Dates: June 2015 - July 2015
• Thursday ----------Sunday
• Cost $2,200 + living costs
• Stay at the SEAMEO RECSAM complex.
• Teach in the local schools.
• Photos and information can be found on vUWS
sitewebsite.

7. Where is it?
RECSAM-Southeast Asian
Ministers of Education Council
PENANG

8. Come and visit my school

9. Malaysia

10. OPEP China 2015
• Leader: Dr Son Truong
• Leader in Training: Dr Tania
Ferfolja
• Tentative Dates: 26th
November – 15th December,
2015
• Cost $ 3,200 + daily living costs
• See the PE 3 (Unit Number:
101075) Site for more
information & all Education
units see the OPEP site for
applications for 2015
Work with University of Ningbo Students who are working
on being English Language MAJORS.
Work in Small groups
Conversation and academic writing
Develop skills in working with ESL students for jobs back
in Australian Schools.

14. OPEP China 2014 -
Completed
Benefits:
Cultural exchanges
New found friends
Experiences in working with groups OS
Value added conversations for
discussion at Interviews / varied
experiences.

15. “I would have never imagined the OPEP experience to be anything
like it was. The amazing friends, the sights, the laughs, the
uncertainty, the food, the students you teach and to be able to say I
have overseas teaching experience on my resume is priceless.” -
Joanne, Ningbo 2014

16. OPEP gave my teaching experience a competitive edge compared to
other pre-service teachers. The first thing a Principal asked after
seeing my CV is
“Tell me about your overseas teaching experience in China” . I have
even landed a full time job in HPE with the Department of Education
before I even finished graduating in Dec 2015. – Joanne, Ningbo 2014

17. Small Group Tours 2015 and Beyond
There have been other successful
tours to countries such as the Cook
Islands, Fiji, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand
etc.,
Offered to the Secondary, Primary and
Early Childhood programs, across all
discipline areas.

18. Thailand
New Opportunity at Nakhon Si
Thammarat
Check the OPEP vUWS site for
more information on small group
tours.

19. Question Time

20. Contacts
Coordinators
• Dr Son Truong – Bankstown Campus
– s.truong@uws.edu.au
• Ms Shirley Gilbert – Penrith Campus
– s.gilbert@uws.edu.au
• Assoc. Prof. Allan White – Penrith Campus
– al.white@uws.edu.au
Or Contact the Specific Tour Leaders