This year, we are celebrating 10-years of the Monash Warwick Alliance. As part of our Voices of the Alliance series, Politics graduate, Shanita Jetha, shares her experience and highlights of the Alliance.

I’m a Civil Servant working in the Department for Transport as a Transformation Culture, Communications and Engagement Manager for Rail. My time at Warwick and Monash really helped me develop the skills to be successful in this role. During my time at Monash, I presented my academic research at the International Conference for Undergraduate Research (ICUR). My research was carried out during my second year at Warwick, and being able to present my findings to an international audience was a fantastic opportunity.

I always knew I wanted to study abroad, so when the applications opened during my second year, I explored all the different options available. The more research on Monash I did, the more confident I became about it being the perfect exchange location for me. The different extracurricular and academic opportunities, the chance to study interdisciplinary modules, nearby travel hotspots and the halls social life were all key factors in my decision to study at Monash. I am very glad to have had the opportunity spend a year at Monash as I still reflect on the experience with happy memories now.

ICUR was a highlight for me. I really enjoyed showcasing my research and, as daunting as it may have been, it really helped me grow. I also loved using the chance to engage with the research others were showcasing. I learnt a lot about medical robots, astronomy and why language is the way it is.

I also dabbled in a few of the societies available at Monash and made good use of their sports facilities which I highly recommend. One of the big highlights was watching an Australian Football League match as part of my Exploring Contemporary Australia module – it was a fantastic experience.

The biggest takeaways for me have been how much I grew during the year and the friendships I made. I left my comfort zone in England and threw myself right in the deep end. It wasn’t easy, but I got to experience first-hand the power of people. Whether it was the friends I randomly made Geocaching, the six-plus hour bus journeys speaking to people nearby to me, or the friends I made in my halls - I feel like Australia is another home to me.

During my time at Monash, I attended a lecture on Melbourne’s transport. What I learnt was really interesting and brought out a big transport nerd in me. That’s a key reason why I chose to work in the Department for Transport.