From international student to college academic: A personal reflection from Dr Navid Memar

Beginning as an international student with aspirations of becoming a teacher, Navid is now a respected college academic with Curtin College in Western Australia. Recently approved for visa sponsorship by Navitas, Navid shares his story with us in his own words.

“Today, I am thrilled to share a story that is not just about me but embodies the Navitas spirit of teamwork, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our students’ success.

I am humbled and excited to announce that I have been granted approval for a further visa sponsorship by our esteemed educational provider, Navitas which not only grants me the privilege of residing permanently in Australia, but also allows me to continue contributing to the remarkable work we do at Navitas.

At the tender age of 17, I made the decision to leave my home country of Iran to seek an education overseas. Like so many international students, I was motivated by a desire to expand upon my learning experiences and ultimately open more doors professionally. Although education is of a high calibre in my home country, it is highly competitive, and many graduates face a lack of employment opportunities. Malaysia was my first destination as they had partnerships with UK universities with lower fees, and it was an easier entry process.

After completing my bachelor’s and master’s degrees there, I was fortunate to be offered an opportunity to complete my PhD at Curtin University. My citizenship makes the issuing of a visa a complicated and difficult matter but after many interviews, I was granted my student visa and I arrived in Perth in 2015.  During my first semester of study, I was asked to teach a first-year unit and in spite of my first day nerves when I faced a lecture theatre full of approximately 200 students, my love affair with teaching began. The student and peer feedback was so positive that I was encouraged to continue teaching and I taught several more units during my PhD study.

In 2019, I was offered the chance to become part of the Curtin College team on a casual basis. Although I had worked in the industry and found it rewarding, nothing compares to the joy I find in teaching. Even more touching for me is to see the success of my former students. I remain in contact through platforms such as LinkedIn and it is uplifting to see them in professional roles across the globe.

The additional responsibilities I now carry as a manager have granted me further growth and I’d like to continue to build on those skills in the future. The next five years I hope to invest more in my leadership and management skills through the Navitas training resources. I also hope to generate richer learner resources based on the needs of our lecturers and students. I also have the long-standing relationship with our University partner that allows me to continue my research, work on peer-edited journals and publish my PhD work.

For me, the move to Australia, Curtin University and then Curtin College has brought extraordinary prospects to build on relationships and continue my lifelong learning. My story embodies the Navitas guiding principal of transforming lives through education, and I am grateful for the support and positivity I have received. This sponsorship is a testament to our shared commitment to positively impacting the lives of our staff and students. Thank you again for this investment in your people.”  – Dr Navid Memar, Discipline Lead, Information Technology, Curtin College.