Four University of Newcastle students are ready to make their mark on the world, after being awarded New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarships to undertake semester-based study and internships in the Indo-Pacific region.
An Australian Government initiative designed to strengthen ties between Australia and the Indo-Pacific, the scholarship program offers recipients an opportunity to enrich their learning and global citizenship.
Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor, International and Advancement, Dary Milani said the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program was an exceptional opportunity for students to enhance their global awareness and broaden their knowledge.
“We are very pleased to have an incredible group of students represent both our university and our country in this wonderful initiative,” Dary said.
“The New Colombo Plan is a foreign policy success story that enables capability, cooperation and mutual commitment between Australia and our Asia Pacific neighbours, long into the future. We are excited about the life changing journey these four young scholars will embark on.”
The four undergraduate NCP scholars will head to China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore in 2019 to develop their skills in their respective fields, which include environmental policy, business management, civil engineering, and law.
Among the Newcastle recipients is Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Aboriginal Practice student, Odette Brown, who is one of just six students selected nationally to receive an Indigenous scholarship sponsored by QBE Insurance.
The key goals of the NCP are to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia, deepen Australia’s people-to-people and institutional relationships with the region, establish study in the Indo-Pacific as a rite of passage for Australian undergraduates and increase the number of work-ready Australian graduates with diverse working experience.
The successful scholars were announced by Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Education on Monday 26 November in a ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra.
The University of Newcastle’s 2019 New Colombo Plan Scholars are:
- Jack Steed, Bachelor of Business student
Jack will study International Business Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Jack hopes to undertake an internship with a sporting organisation in China such as the Royal and Ancient Golf Club or Suzhou Junior Golf League.
- Josiebel Cardona, Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) student
Travelling to Hong Kong, Josiebel will study at Civil Engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and plans to intern with an organisation that develops sustainable solutions for urban living.
- Odette Brown, Bachelor of Aboriginal Practice/ Bachelor of Laws
Odette, who is the recipient of the QBE Indigenous scholarship, will travel to Japan to study Legal Studies at Waseda University. Odette hopes to undertake an internship with the United Nations Development Program.
- Kelsey Gray, Bachelor of Science/ Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Kelsey will study Environmental Science at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Kelsey plans to undertake an internship with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific in the Environment and Development Policy Department.
IMAGE | Recipients of the New Colombo Plan Scholarships with Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs at the announcement at Parliament House.
