The Discipline of Global Cultures and Languages (School of International Studies) recently held its annual prize-giving event.

Honoured guests included:

• the Ambassador of Croatia to Australia
• Consuls General of Croatia, Germany, Argentina and Uruguay
• representatives from the Australia-Taiwan Culture Foundation, Croatian Studies Foundation, Italian Cultural Institute, Alliance Française de Sydney, Goethe-Institute, AHEPA and the Australia-Japan Society of NSW.

The event was hosted by Dr Wes Robertson, who opened the formalities and outlined each student’s achievements, highlighting the dedication and hard work behind their awards. To further underscore the significance of these accomplishments, each prize was formally presented by a donor or dignitary, who shared remarks on the importance of language education and cultural understanding in today’s global society.

This year, twenty-three prizes were awarded, celebrating the efforts of students studying Chinese, Croatian, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. The prizes showcased the incredible depth and diversity of student achievement, including categories recognising:

• excellence in academic performance
• contributions to fostering international relations
• peer-reviewed research publications
• excellence in securing internal study abroad scholarships.

The 2026 prize-giving ceremony was not only a celebration of academic success but also a testament to the School of International Studies’ commitment to nurturing the talents of future global leaders and fostering a diverse and connected community within Australia.