Orientation
Before the MBA program begins we welcome you to business school with ‘Pre Week'; an informal program of activities for new students as they arrive in Melbourne. Pre Week is not compulsory; it's a great opportunity to meet your future fellow students in an informal setting. Melbourne based students are also welcome to participate in pre week events. A timetable of events for Pre Week is sent in November as part of the Orientation pack.
The MBA begins with Orientation Week. O-week is a lot of fun; there is a busy program of formal and informal group activities. Some sessions provide practical advice, others are more interactive and encourage new students to mix and work together. The objectives of O-week are to introduce students to each other, faculty, the program and the facilities and services at MBS and the University of Melbourne . Details of O-week activities are sent in November as part of the Orientation pack.
Meeting People
Pre week and Orientation week are an ideal time to make new friends. Student Services organise social events where there will be opportunities for students to network and form friendships. Social events include the annual ball, end of term celebrations and family days.
Melbourne Business School has a number of clubs and societies including the Student Representative Council, Consulting Club, Women in Management, Net Impact and Rainmakers.
Social conventions in Australia include:
- When meeting someone for the first time who is older than you, it is polite to use their title and family name until you are invited to use their given name.
- It is common to shake hands with someone when you meet them.
- Punctuality at appointments or social events is important. If you are detained it is polite to telephone and inform the person with whom you have the appointment. For parties it is common to arrive up to half an hour after the start time.
- Australians believe in equality and respect regardless of a person's occupation or economic position.
- It is not polite to push ahead of others in a queue.
- It is not polite to ask a person questions about their income.
- It is polite to take a small gift for the host when invited for a meal.
- Gifts are not usually given to teachers or others in official positions. This may be interpreted as an attempt to gain favourable consideration and is seen as inappropriate.
- It is polite to remain about an arm's length away when talking with someone.
- Spitting, blowing your nose without using a handkerchief and clearing your throat noisily are considered unacceptable behaviour.
- Tipping is not generally expected.
- Goods in retail shops are sold at a fixed price.
