Alex (2D Animation Sydney) and Charlie (Game Design Sydney) – domestic second-year students.

You could feel an air of excitement from both students and staff in physically being able to meet, talk and laugh together again on campus. People were happy, sitting and chatting with peers they hadn’t seen in a long time. The AIT campuses felt vibrant again as classes filled up with students and teachers.

“We are back to face-to-face teaching and boy, what a couple of weeks the beginning of our February Trimester has been!” said Magda Sornat, AIT’s Student Services Manager for Sydney.

“As the whole world is moving online, it was really lovely to see students and educators back on campus. We welcomed a lot of our new students but also those not so new but new to the campus. Yes, believe it or not, some of our students have not had a chance to visit our campus yet.”

Rabin, Kriansh and Sudeep – international first-year students in Sydney.

As AIT has done since the beginning of the pandemic, provision will remain in place for students to switch to virtual learning if needed. This allows both students and staff to respond to any changes in circumstances and government directives if required.

Virtual classroom software including AIT’s Canvas student platform, digital whiteboards, and more, have allowed classes to continue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with flexible and hybrid learning.

Pricilla Firdiani (2D Animation Sydney) – international second-year student.

“Our Orientation Day was fully virtual, which gave the students their first taste of what their classes through Canvas would be like,” Magda said.

“It was a fantastic day! Everyone was so present, engaged and supportive of each other, we could not keep up with the chat! Not to mention the whiteboard… there was no stopping the students. So good to see everyone connecting like this. I felt like a real community was formed, expanding our AIT family. Very excited to be part of it.”

Students were encouraged to interact during AIT’s virtual orientation day, and the online whiteboard filled up in seconds.

Students were excited to be back on campus too. Pricilla Firdiani is an international second-year student, who was studying 3D Animation at AIT in Sydney before changing her focus to 2D Animation.

“It’s so exciting to be back, I can meet my friends and talk in person to my teacher,” Pricilla said.

“It helps to be on campus as the lesson is more attached to my brain.”

In Melbourne, students made the most of once more having access to the AIT campus facilities.

Domestic students Alexander and Riley had a go on the arcade machine, while Tiernan stayed back between classes to work on his assignments.

Domestic student Tiernan works on his assignments in the breakout room.

“I am very happy to be back on campus,” Tiernan said. “I am so much more motivated here than at home!”

Students now have the chance to enjoy meeting their peers in person. They can also make the most of the campus facilities that AIT offers. No doubt many friendships will be made in the breakout room and around the arcade machines, and students will once again have access to the dedicated green screen room, sound booth, and other on-campus facilities.

Myles and Wafa are new domestic students.

“Orientation is always a special time for us on our campus, with new students, current students and faculty,” said Ruby Trinh Nguyen, AIT’s Deputy Student Services Manager in Melbourne.

“It was extra special this trimester in Melbourne as over the last week or so, it has been so exciting to witness the campus come alive again after a long time being closed because of COVID. Seeing students’ smiling eyes above the face masks, making new friends, arranging group study, engaging in the classrooms has truly warmed our hearts. We are looking forward to having a wonderful trimester and a successful academic year together!”