Backpacks, Block Models & Breaking the Rules: Monty Singh’s Journey of Reinvention

Monty Singh’s first night in Australia was in a Canberra backpackers, bunking with a complete stranger from Pakistan. He thought the city was under curfew when Belconnen Mall shut down at 6pm. And when he finally made it to uni? He thought “IT” meant “income tax.”It’s safe to say things didn’t go to plan. And yet somehow, they went exactly right.In this heartwarming and hilarious episode of Global Horizons, Rob catches up with Monty Singh, now Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Chief International Officer at Victoria University, to talk about a journey that started with a misunderstood acronym and ended up transforming thousands of lives.👀 Some of what you’ll hear in this episode:• Why Monty nearly became a salvage diver instead of a university leader• The culture shock of early 2000s Canberra (and that first trip to Woolies!)• The moment Monty discovered he was dyslexic—and how it changed everything• What makes VU’s Block Model so successful for students from diverse backgrounds• Why education’s future lies in fit-for-purpose tech and individualised learning• His dream of ticking off all seven continents (spoiler: Antarctica is still waiting!)Monty’s story is about the possibilities that open up when education meets opportunity—and how today’s institutions must keep evolving to meet the needs of tomorrow’s students.You’ll laugh. You’ll learn. And you might just look at your CD collection differently.We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without ⁠The Koala News⁠, Australia’s international education news website.This episode is supported by ⁠Choosing Your Uni⁠, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]⁠Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.