This post is authored by Professor Jac Birt | Head of School | School of Business
From August 3rd to 10th, we were delighted to host our second group of ten students and one staff member from Tianjin University of Commerce (TUC) at the Port Macquarie campus. The week was a vibrant mix of academic learning, cultural exploration, and community building an experience that was as enriching as it was enjoyable.
The academic program, led by Professor Jac Birt (Head of the Business School), Dr Helen Taylor, Kylie Gumbleton, and Leanne Gaul, focused on the theme of sustainability. Students engaged in sessions covering sustainability reporting, international finance, green investments, and sustainable entrepreneurship; topics that are increasingly vital in today’s global business landscape. The teaching team brought both depth and energy to the classroom, sparking thoughtful discussions and encouraging students to consider how sustainability principles can be applied in real-world contexts.
Pictured above | Professor Jac Birt welcomes TUC students during their Port Macquarie campus visit [image]. Source: Jac Birt (Copyright 2025)
Pictured above | The visit also presented opportunities to socialise and relax [image]. Source: Jac Birt (Copyright 2025)
Outside the classroom, the program offered a series of immersive activities designed to complement the academic content and showcase the natural and cultural richness of the region. Highlights included the Sea Acres Rainforest Aboriginal Cultural Tour, which provided powerful insights into Indigenous perspectives on sustainability, and a sunset cruise on the Hastings River, an opportunity to relax, reflect, and connect with peers in a stunning setting. Students also visited the Billabong Zoo, where they learned about native wildlife and conservation efforts, and enjoyed the scenic Port Macquarie coastal walk and Town Beach tour. These experiences helped ground the sustainability theme in the local environment and added a memorable layer to the week’s learning. A huge thank you goes to Shane Aylmore and Sam Ambridge for their invaluable support throughout the program. Their behind-the-scenes coordination ensured everything ran smoothly and contributed to the welcoming atmosphere that made the visit so special.
The feedback from our TUC visitors was overwhelmingly positive. They appreciated the academic rigor, the warmth of our campus community, and the opportunity to engage with sustainability in both theoretical and practical ways. It was a pleasure to host such a curious and engaged group, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership.
