From left: Short Term Mobility Coordinator Jess Simpson, Ella Whan, Katelyn Williams, Lucas Parker and Head of Student Mobility and Exchange Amy Ryan at the聽Scholars Ceremony in Canberra
, which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.
The program includes internships or mentorships, as well as practicums and research. It has a strong alumni community that allows past scholars to share their experiences and continue to maintain and develop links with the Indo-Pacific.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO, said the program offered students many golden opportunities.
"The New Colombo Plan gives students invaluable experience, by helping to develop their leadership skills within the Indo-Pacific region and exposing them to the diverse cultures in the region,鈥 Professor Scott said.
"The program will strengthen the University鈥檚 ties on a global scale, enhance the students鈥 time at university through internships and mentorships and connect them to our alumni community.鈥
NCP scholarship recipient Lucas Parker (Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Commerce) will travel to Hong Kong, where he will focus on robotics and engineering. Lucas hopes to develop 鈥淎ustralia's ties with Hong Kong and the Indo-Pacific through growing people-to-people relationships and institutional connections.鈥
The program will strengthen the University鈥檚 ties on a global scale.
Undergraduate arts and law student Ella Whan will travel to Malaysia. "I am excited for the opportunity to truly immerse myself in a new social and cultural context, fostering genuine connections with the local community and embracing their differing way of living," Ella said. "I hope to gain an understanding of the political context in Malaysia and how this has been shaped by the different cultures and religions within the region."
Another University of Sydney student will this year serve as an ambassador for the New Colombo Plan.聽聽and studied in Jakarta at the Institute of Sustainability and Agility. Emer has a strong drive to empower regional and rural students to explore a range of opportunities, including the NCP, and will be assisting the University in promoting the plan this year.
Global experience and student mobility are a part of the University of Sydney鈥檚 undergraduate experience.聽Students can add an international dimension to their degree through semester exchanges, short-term programs, global internships and fieldwork, with聽scholarships聽available to support their studies.聽