Media releases

Students and staff from Federation University Australia will embark on major international study tours in June and July as part of six New Colombo Mobility Grants awarded in 2020.

The grants, totalling $249,400, will enable 78 Federation University students and eight staff to travel to six countries, including Thailand, Fiji, and South Korea. This follows four 2019 projects to Samoa, Vietnam, Nepal and China.

The New Colombo Plan is an initiative of the Federal Government aiming to lift knowledge of the Indo Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.

Federation students from the School of Health and Life Sciences, Federation Business School and School of Nursing and Healthcare Professions received New Colombo grants. The projects the students and staff will embark on include:

• Consolidating educational partnerships in Vietnam with Hanoi National University of Education (HNUE)
• Promoting health and well-being in our ageing societies with Narusuan University Hospital and Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital, Thailand
• Developing business modelling and cross-cultural management skills with the Government of Nepal
• Building knowledge, experience and relationships at Pukyong International Summer School, South Korea
• Mental health capacity building in a diverse regional setting in Fiji with Australian undergraduate nursing students; and
• Enhancing pathways to and from Guangdong with Federation’s School of Science, Engineering and Information Technology and Shaoguan University (SGU), Guangdong Province, China

Applications for the 2021 New Colombo Plan Mobility Program are due to open in March.

Quotes attributable to Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett

“The New Colombo Mobility Grants are a wonderful government initiative to encourage exciting study and travel opportunities for tertiary students.”

“I know that our students and staff will gain valuable experience from their internships and the important projects that they will be working on while overseas.”

“It is very pleasing that our students will serve as Federation University ambassadors as they travel through the Indo Pacific region.”

Quotes attributable to former New Colombo grant recipient, Bachelor of Professional Practice student, Victoria Seex

“As this was my first trip away from my family, I was naturally nervous but these fears were quickly quashed.”

“The trip to Shaoguan in China was planned impeccably and not once did I feel unsafe. I was able to enjoy the culture and experiences of living in a different country – even eating insects for the first time.”