News

15 July 2007: MBS partnership helps PNG project

Zeenat Patrawala has just completed her MBA internship, which was generously funded by alumni donations to the MBS Annual Fund. Her twelve-week placement was at the Australian Venom Research Unit, under the auspices of the Nossal Institute for Global Health.

Zeenat’s role was to develop business plans and to assist in developing funding proposals for the establishment of a national antivenom facility at the University of Papua New Guinea, thereby improving the chances of survival for snake-bite victims in PNG – a developing country with limited basic infrastructure.

"Working at The Nossal Institute instilled me with a sense of purpose, " said a clearly thrilled Zeenat. "I was lucky enough to travel to the region where I met the patients whose lives we were trying to improve. It was amazing to see the work we’re doing have such a positive and real outcome. "

Zeenat is certainly keen to see similar collaborative internships like this take place: "I learned so much and the whole experience has been critical to broadening my education. But I was also proud that the business skills and alternative ways of thinking I've developed during the MBA are helping to ensure the antivenom facility in Papua becomes a reality. "

"MBS is very much a part of the Melbourne business community, " she concluded. "Completing an internship puts you in the heart of that community, which means you’re getting a taste of business and education – that's crucial. I want to thank MBS alumni whose donations supported my work and travel because it would have been difficult to have done the internship without this financial assistance. I certainly hope more students will be given opportunities like this in the future. "

MBS and the Nossal Institute for Global Health are both delighted that this initial collaboration has proved to be such a success. We are all looking forward to future partnerships that offer other students the chance to apply their business expertise to important projects that make a difference to people who need it the most.

If you would like to help students receive an outstanding business education, please consider a gift to the MBS Annual Fund.www.mbs.edu/givingonline.html