Indrawati Widiastuti

Before leaving Indonesia, Indrawati Widiastuti spent two years studying management at a university. However, she was not particularly inspired by the subject and decided to try something new.

�I didn�t know much about New Zealand. In fact I thought Auckland was somewhere in Australia! But I decided to come here anyway because it�s a cheaper place to study than other countries and also my uncle lives here.�

When she first arrived, she spent three months studying in the AIS St Helens English Language Centre bettering her English before starting her Bachelor of International Business.

Indrawati was attracted to AIS St Helens for a variety of reasons. Due to the institute�s three-semester year, particularly diligent and able students may be able to finish their degree in a shorter time.

�But that�s not the only benefit. There are lots of Indonesian students here, which was great when I got homesick! And there are so many people from other countries too - it's a great opportunity to learn about other cultures. You can really develop close relationships with your fellow students at AIS because the class sizes are so small and you get lots of individual attention from your lecturers.�

And AIS St Helens provided �added value� for Bachelor of International Business student Indrawati. Not only could she gain business experience here but she also greatly improved her English language skills.

�I know it will be a lot easier to find work with my qualification because I�ll have my Bachelor degree and I�ll also be able to speak English very well,� says Indrawati, who has recently graduated. She now hopes to get residency and a job in New Zealand.

And for Auckland, the City of Sails, Indrawati has nothing but praise. �Auckland is beautiful and I think it�s a good place to study because it�s very quiet.�