Welcome to the November 2009 issue of the Transnational Support Services Newsletter.

We are a Division of Business unit located on the first floor of 189 Hindley Street. Our services include international travel for the Division, web and online for transnational undergraduate students, transnational student administration and program management.

TSS Travel - What's Making the News in the Travel Industry...

Business Travel Record (FS37)

TSS Travel cannot stress enough how important it is for this document to be administered on your return from overseas travel. This is applicable to all travellers who are away from home for 6 nights or more; refer to notes on the form about information required and where to send your completed form.

The Travel Record is an ATO requirement, therefore is a VIP document to administer and have a copy on file. http://www.unisa.edu.au/fin/forms/default.asp 

Passport Validity Requirements

13 October 2009

In order to assist Australian travellers avoid difficulties and possible delays, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued the following letter regarding passport validity requirements.

Please click the following link to view the letter, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Qantas Announces Plans for Airport of the Future

Sydney, 11 November 2009

Qantas today unveiled plans to overhaul its domestic airport check-in which will halve check-in times for customers at City Flyer ports across Australia.

Speaking at the National Aviation Press Club today, Qantas Chief Executive, Mr Alan Joyce, said the Airport of the Future initiative would begin next year with the introduction of next generation check-in.

"Qantas will be introducing new world-leading technology to revolutionise the airport experience for its customers around Australia," Mr Joyce said.

"Qantas Frequent Flyers' cards will be embedded with an intelligent chip, transforming them into personal boarding passes linked to permanent bag tags.

"This will enable Qantas passengers to swipe their Frequent Flyer card on a reader and head to a simplified baggage drop, or straight through the security process to their departure gate, or Qantas lounge.

"The first stage of our Airport of the Future initiative will help eliminate queues for our customers. It will commence in Perth and will be followed by Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.

The service will be available for all Qantas Frequent Flyers from Silver through to Platinum and all Qantas Club members. Bronze Frequent Flyers and non-frequent flyers will also see significant upgrades to their check-in arrangements, with hosted kiosks and rapid bag drop.

"With this new personal boarding pass and permanent bag tag, checking in baggage will no longer be a chore - no more baggage stickers and weigh-ins at the desk. While the process will be simple, the technology behind it will ensure the full range of security checks remain solidly in place," Mr Joyce said.

Mr Joyce said the new approach was expected to halve check-in time.

"Next-generation check-in is all about responding to our customers' desire for increased speed and ease through the airport process," he said.

"The response from customers, in our market research, to the major innovation, has been overwhelmingly positive.

"Importantly, the changes will provide new added services for our Frequent Flyers, particularly business travellers, who are time poor and looking for ease and efficiency when they fly."

A next generation check-in will commence in Perth in mid-2010. Roll-out will then commence in Sydney towards the end of next year, Melbourne in early 2011 and remaining City Flyer ports through the year.

Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (3973)


Promaster Credit Card System

You may have received an email from finance outlining the new electronic credit card system which will replace the current Flexipurchase system. This change will have a big impact on those staff who are responsible for using and reconciling a University credit card for offshore travel expenses.

Roadshows have been scheduled across the University from 23rd November to outline the changes to staff and how this will impact the way they use their credit card.

To find out when and to register for the next information session, please go to the RegisterIT site.


    

TBS Students Impressed Investors at Business Pitch Event

Raising investment funds of RM25,000 in one week was a dream three students never thought possible in their lifetime. Until they entered the Money Tree Young Entrepreneur Startup (YES) Challenge 2009.

Jolene Sim, Tan Su Zhen and Hoh Kar Ming, second-year students of Taylor's Business School (TBS), who are pursuing the University of South Australia twinning programme, created a new record when they received pledges and cash totalling up to RM14,000 in one day.

The Challenge finals held on 8 August 2009, entitled the "Big Pitch" was attended by over 100 private investors. The top 5 teams who made it to the finals were required to present their ideas to the investors and pitch for start-up funds amounting to a maximum of RM25,000 per team to allow their business ideas to take off. This was the first time a crowd-sourcing initiative of this scale has ever been attempted in Malaysia.

Naming their company Entree, the students presented their business idea of a complete induction experience for college and university students. With a catchy theme - No Sweat! - the business intends to provide international and outstation students with an induction guide book and value-added benefits such as free prepaid cards. In addition, they will also set up a website and offer induction tours.

Entree also chalked up another victory when they were awarded as the team with the "Best Overall Presentation" at the "Big Pitch". This earned them another RM2,000 of qualified investments for their business start up.

Article by Chuah Ai Jou, Marketing & Communications, TUC

Vice Chancellor's Award for Professional Staff Excellence

Congratulations to Mary McEwin, Cate McKenzie and Renee Kavanagh who were awarded with the VC's Award for Professional Staff Excellence for outstanding contribution to creating an environment of shared success and commitment through "Leading Change".

The team earned this award for their work on the Transnational Exit framework. 


HKBU Visit

Stan Astachnowicz, Mary McEwin, Emma Lee and Rita Mitkas visited Hong Kong recently for the Hong Kong Baptist University November intake orientation to welcome 160 new students who will commence their studies.

During their stay they also met with partner staff and held group and individual consultation sessions with both postgraduate and undergraduate students to provide information on program exit arrangements. These meetings also gave students the opportunity to ask questions in relation to their individual study plan.

From left to right: Emma Lee, Karen Tong, Pinky Leung, Rita Mitkas and Brandon Ng
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Christmas Academic Payments

Payment Information forms must be received by TSS no later than Friday 4 December in order for appropriate payments to be processed and paid into staff accounts on 24 December.

Any PIFs received after the 4th will not be processed until 2010.


Christmas Wishes

The TSS Team would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.

We thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration in 2009 and look forward to another productive and rewarding year in Transnational education!

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