Lord Mayor Graham Quirk with Brisbane International Student Ambassador Ebrahim Khalil from Dammam. – Courtesy photo Saudi Gazette report BRISBANE – A university student from Saudi Arabia now studying in Brisbane, Australia, has been selected as one of 33 Brisbane International Student Ambassadors for 2013. Announcing the name of 25-year-old Ebrahim Khalil, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said that the ambassadors will use social media to tell the world what it's like to study and live in the city. “Brisbane's 33 passionate new advocates from 29 countries will share their experiences back home as well as participate in media interviews, volunteer at multicultural events, and assist with hosting official visiting delegations. As well as coming to grips with a different language and unfamiliar campuses, they will witness unique Australian sporting events, feed dolphins, visit our world-renowned Gallery of Modern Art, and much more,” he said. Talking to Saudi Gazette on the phone, Khalil said that he felt happy on hearing the news. “There were 178 applicants and only 33 were selected,” he said. Khalil, who likes to make new friends, listed reading, camping and traveling as his hobbies. Khalil is from Dammam, but lives in Brisbane while completing a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Queensland through the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. “Brisbane is a great, young and safe city for international students. It has a unique educational environment, sunny weather and more importantly the universities are very modern and have high quality facilities,” Khalil was quoted as saying.“A friend of my father's advised me to study engineering at the University of Queensland and I want to thank him. I have had the chance to make friendships with locals and internationals, gain new experiences and reshape my life. Being an International Student Ambassador helps me to build a bridge between Brisbane and the rest of the world.” Mayor Quirk said Brisbane's 75,553 international students were attracted by the city's growing global reputation as an Australasian center of excellence for science and technology, drawing international collaborations from industry and research institutes worldwide. “Another bonus for students is that many companies in Brisbane offer internship and graduate programs which embrace cross-cultural skills. Our strong economy, lifestyle and weather are also drawcards,” Quirk said. He said the honorary appointments were for one year. In that time, the ambassadors will use a variety of social media and digital tools, including Facebook, Twitter and the recently relaunched Study Brisbane website, to communicate their real life experiences. “International students contribute so much to Brisbane and not just on an economic level. They help create a cosmopolitan, vibrant city and strengthen our network with cities around the globe, creating lifelong relationships,” he said. The student ambassador program was established by Brisbane Marketing's Study Brisbane (www.studybrisbane.com) program in 2009 and is open to both domestic and international students in Brisbane.
