High-flying Chinese RMIT graduates visit Melbourne

Representatives from RMIT were recently on hand to join Victorian Government officials at Melbourne Airport, welcoming Chinese RMIT graduates on the maiden flight of new international carrier, Xiamen Air.

The airline, commencing its twice-weekly route from China to Melbourne, was given the traditional welcome for new international aircraft: a tarmac christening salute with sprays from water cannons.

Leonie Boxtel, director of advancement with RMIT, later welcomed the Chinese graduates of the 2003 and 2004 RMIT Aerospace and Aviation courses to the RMIT Melbourne City campus.

Hosting them on a tour of the RMIT Advanced Manufacturing Precinct, Ms Boxtel and the group paused to admire the large outdoor digital signage at Melbourne Central promoting the new Fuji-Melbourne air route.

The RMIT graduates, who now hold senior roles with Xiamen Air, were keen to re-visit the Melbourne campus where they had previously studied.

Recent news coverage of the arrival of Xiamen Air noted that over half a million Chinese tourist visited Victoria in the year ending March 2016, contributing a third of total visitor expenditure to the state.

 “RMIT has over 7,000 Chinese alumni globally,” Boxtel said.

“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to re-connect with some of them and to share how RMIT has grown and expanded since they studied with us.”

The campus tour concluded with an afternoon tea and cultural gift exchange between RMIT staff and the Xiamen Air graduates.

Professor Pier Marzocca, Associate Dean of the RMIT School of Engineering, agreed the day was a great opportunity.

“It’s a great chance for our Aviation and Aerospace graduates to visit with some of the RMIT Engineering staff who once taught them and to learn about their subsequent success in the aviation industry,” he said.

Later that day, senior RMIT staff joined the Xiamen Air alumni for a formal dinner at Crown Casino.

Guests were treated to a unique Chinese cultural performance from Xiamen Air staff members.

The occasion celebrated ties between Xiamen Air and RMIT, cementing future Chinese cross-cultural industry and global mobility partnerships.

Story: Aaron Hughes