Sri Lankan students considering further study in Australia are to have better access to workplace skills and training following a new agreement between La Trobe University and the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT).

La Trobe University and Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) signed a formal articulation agreement on Wednesday April 29 2009, at the NMIT Preston Campus. The agreement guarantees specific credit to NMIT graduates entering a range of La Trobe University undergraduate programmes.

Both institutions have committed to a range of joint marketing activities for courses - a move which will deliver benefits to students internationally and domestically. "This agreement will have positive outcomes for international students, enabling them to be offered a place at NMIT and entry to La Trobe, in a single application process," said Arlene Peace, International Development Manager at La Trobe International.

"Signing of this new articulation agreement signifies a new phase in the relationship between NMIT and La Trobe University and shows students and other stakeholders a commitment to building real opportunities through this priority collaboration" said Ms Peace.

"We are developing combined promotional collateral, participating jointly in several key marketing events and working together to promote the partnership to key stakeholders such as schools and recruitment agents," said Janne Gorman, Director, La Trobe University Future Students Centre.

NMIT six urban campuses and La Trobe University Bundoora campus (main campus) are both located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, alleviating the requirement for students to relocate accommodation when studies at NMIT are complete and studies at La Trobe are due to commence.

At present the agreed articulation arrangements relate to Commerce and Information Technology programmes. Discussions are currently being held between NMIT and La Trobe to formalise articulation arrangements for courses in Agricultural Science, Conservation Biology and Ecology, Electronic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, Human Resource Management, Sports Management, Graphic Design, Visual Arts, and Health Sciences to name a few. Civil Engineering, Graphic Design and Visual Arts are taught at La Trobe's second largest campus located in the beautiful heritage city of Bendigo, only 90 minutes from Melbourne.

The arrangement will be beneficial to students in many ways

• apply for one student visa prior to departing Sri Lanka, previously students would complete studies at NMIT on one visa, and then apply for another visa if continuing studies at La Trobe
• a bachelor qualification will cost less to complete
• students will gain 2 qualifications, NMIT Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree, and La Trobe University Bachelor qualification
• Students who fail to meet the English requirements to gain a student visa for a bachelor programme alone can apply with a lower level of English to study a Diploma/Advanced Diploma at NMIT followed by a bachelor programme at La Trobe.
  To visit the range of courses available at NMIT, visit http://www.nmit.vic.edu.au/international_courses, and at La Trobe, visit http://www.latrobe.edu.au/international