Society Spotlight: UC International Club (UCIC)
By Peter Searles
Lately I’ve heard several people make the same observation: that 2025 has been a big year for clubs and societies at UC. There’s been a perceived surge in club activity, and several new clubs have sprung up. Harshith Ghanta is the founder of one of these, it’s called UC International Club (UCIC). Speaking to him recently, I learnt about the inspiration behind the club and the goals for its first few months. I also got one person’s view on how establishing a club can be a powerful way to bring about positive change in your university community.
Since starting a Masters in IT in February this year, Harshith has taken several opportunities to become involved in campus life. One such opportunity was the chance to work with the Respect Now Always team. Respect Now Always is an initiative of Universities Australia, a national body that advocates for the educational and research interests of its 39 participating universities. Through the Respect Now Always program, they aim to prevent sexual violence in university communities and equip universities to best support those who have been affected by sexual violence.
For Harshith, Respect Now Always was a cause that gave meaningful expression to his innate desire to help others. His contributions towards ensuring the safety of students led to broader thinking about how their needs, rights and interests might be better protected. And while his work was not solely focussed on international students, his own experience having recently settled in Australia from India brought a particular lens to his perception of the issues a UC student might face.
Harshith interviewed at semester 2 market day
Harshith arrived in Australia two months before the commencement of his studies. Moving into student accommodation on campus he noticed, as many of us have, that UC can be a ghost town over the summer. On-campus events and activities were scarce, and seeing his housemates during the limited times they spent at home was Harshith’s only chance to socialise with other students. This experience contributed to one of UCIC’s key goals, combatting social isolation and cultural adjustment challenges. Bi-Weekly gatherings for conversation and fun activities with different themes will be one of the key ways UCIC works to improve the campus experience of all students. Each month will feature a different cuisine, culminating in a shared dinner open to all club members, offering a delicious and inclusive way to connect over culture and conversation. Harshith hopes that the regularity of meetings will ensure consistent connection and enable socialising to become part of the club members’ routines.
Elaborating on the club’s name, Harshith clarified that UCIC is not just for international students. The ‘international’ in the name is really about the concept of internationality itself. So, while there are several national clubs on campus, UCIC might become a place that students of all nationalities can gather and have their diversity celebrated. The club’s acronym, which can be alternatively read as “You See, I See” is a catchy and philosophical way of capturing its core concept of internationality. The club is an expression of the varied perspectives that arise among groups of people.
“When two people look at the same object or situation, their interpretations could be different. Not because one is right and one is wrong. It can be shaped by culture, background, emotion and personal truth,” Harshith said.
Whether in terms of cultural practices or contrasting perspectives on contentious political issues, what you and I see may differ significantly. But we can respect and live with that fact. This philosophical underpinning means UCIC will make space for discussions between people who do not agree. Differing ideas and opinions will be welcomed. With open mindedness and non-judgement, all types of people and their perspectives can be heard and accepted. In this way, Harshith pointed out, the club might be seen as an active embodiment of one of UC’s core values – ‘everyone’s invited’.
Drawing on his experience with Respect Now Always and other on campus groups, Harshith also hopes the club might fill any gaps in university support systems and proactively solve student issues. One way UCIC aims to achieve this is by acting as a bridge between students and the many independent services at UC. The university offers a wide range of student services, these services can sometimes feel overwhelming and, may go unnoticed by those who need them the most. UCIC will serve as a central hub, raising awareness of the various services UC provides, as well as sharing information about external organisations that provide aid and support to students.
Harshith’s ambitions for the club are big and far reaching. But he has also done the necessary work of articulating and focusing his intentions for the club. In doing so, he arrived at the four pillars of the club’s mission:
Respect, Safety, Cultural Inclusion - celebrating cultural diversity with inclusivity and respect.
Know Your Rights - equipping international and migrant students with knowledge about their rights at work, in their studies and in their daily lives.
Career Readiness, Community Involvement - helping students prepare for their careers and encouraging them to become active contributors in their community.
Fun, Friendship, Shared Experiences - encouraging social connection through shared experiences and activities.
UCIC IGM, 18th July 2025
Having established the scope of the club, Harshith’s work has shifted to bringing other students on board. The 18th July IGM was a chance to do just that, and members were invited to take on committee roles, becoming active members of and ambassadors for the club.
To see where UCIC goes from here, follow them on Instagram (@ucinternationalclub), Linkdin, and become a member of the club through their rubric page.
If you’re thinking about starting a club at UC, you can follow the step by step guide on the UCX website.